Ferns N Petals: From A Single Shop to an $86 Million Gifting Empire

A thoughtful gift speaks volumes. It can say “I love you,” “I miss you,” or even “I messed up” without a single word. But finding the perfect bouquet or a significant gift was impossible years ago. Florists offered limited choices, creativity was often missing, and there was no reliable way to send that special gift to someone you cared about.

But what if a gift could do more than bring joy in the moment? This is the story of one young man in Delhi who, driven by frustration, turned a fleeting wish into something extraordinary. The search for the perfect bouquet has since blossomed into India’s largest floral and gifting brand, spreading love and joy, one petal at a time. 

Are you curious to know more? Read on

Where You Are Planted

Vikaas Gutgutia didn’t just grow into the flower business—he let it take root in him.

Raised in a small village in Bihar, he watched his father and uncle trade flowers, but it wasn’t until he moved to Kolkata for his studies that he truly saw its potential.

His uncle owned the city’s first air-conditioned flower shop, and young Vikaas was captivated. The chilled interiors, the delicate artistry of bouquet-making, the way flowers could be arranged like poetry—it was a world unlike any he had known.

Curiosity soon blossomed into an obsession, and hours spent in that shop unknowingly shaped the future of India’s gifting industry.

That Sparked a Revolution

When Gutgutia moved to Delhi, he wanted to impress his girlfriend with a bouquet that truly expressed his feelings.

But the local florists had nothing beyond boring, run-of-the-mill arrangements. No creativity. No presentation. No experience.

That moment of frustration became his lightbulb moment. Why weren’t flowers being treated as a luxury? Why was there no premium gifting experience? What if he could change that?

The Birth of Ferns N Petals

With Rs 2.5 lakh borrowed from a friend, Gutgutia took the leap in 1994 and opened the first Ferns N Petals store in South Delhi. It was tiny, just 200 sq. ft., unlike anything Delhi had seen before.

No roadside flower stalls. No hurried transactions. Instead, it was an air-conditioned store with curated floral designs, elegant wrapping, and an experience that made gifting feel special.

And people noticed.

In the Path, but the Roots Were Strong

Success wasn’t instant. Just as the store started gaining momentum, the Delhi government shut it down.

But Gutgutia wasn’t ready to let his dream wither. Armed with a cordless phone, he began taking orders remotely and explored new ways to grow the business.

That’s when he saw an untapped goldmine—Delhi’s grand wedding industry. He collaborated with banquet halls, event planners, and luxury hotels, offering floral décor for lavish celebrations.

His big break came in 1997 with a contract from Taj Palace Hotel, putting FNP on the map.

By 2001, the business became profitable after seven years of grit and perseverance. And once it bloomed, there was no looking back.

From Flowers to Full-Blown Celebrations

With Delhi conquered, Gutgutia took FNP national. What started as a single flower shop became a thriving chain across major Indian cities.

But he wasn’t just selling flowers anymore—he was selling experiences.
FNP introduced cakes, chocolates, greeting cards, and personalized gifts, expanding its reach beyond bouquets.

It built an e-commerce platform, ensuring nationwide delivery and turning last-minute gifting into a seamless experience.

Soon, Ferns N Petals wasn’t just about sending flowers but about owning the entire gifting ecosystem.

But Grand Gestures

Scaling the gifting industry was just the beginning. Gutgutia saw an even bigger opportunity—weddings.
FNP Weddings was born to offer high-end floral décor and end-to-end wedding planning services.

The brand became synonymous with opulence, handling everything from extravagant floral installations to full-scale event execution.

Another surprise came: FNP Water, a premium drinking water brand launched in 2018 and served exclusively at FNP wedding venues.

A bold move? Maybe.
But it proved that Gutgutia wasn’t just building a gifting company but creating an empire.

Roses, Retail, and Rapid Deliveries

FNP continued to evolve, expanding into luxury floral decor with FNP Tahiliani, launching a school for floral design, and setting up exclusive retail outlets.

Then, in 2021, one of its most ambitious moves was a 30-minute delivery service across 36 cities, including tier-2 and tier-3 markets.

The idea was simple: make gifting as fast as ordering food. With this, FNP became India’s fastest and most reliable gifting service, setting a new industry benchmark.

The Cake Takeover

While flowers were its foundation, FNP’s cake business became an unexpected blockbuster.

In India, there are five cake shops for every flower shop, and Gutgutia saw the potential before anyone else.

Today, FNP operates 300 flower outlets in 120 cities and 50 Cakes N More outlets across 25 locations, making it a leader in floral and confectionery gifting. The shift wasn’t just strategic—it was brilliant.

Ready for the Spotlight

With $86 million in revenue, FNP is now eyeing its next big milestone—an IPO.

The company is also expanding deeper into Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities and even stepping into the luxury hospitality sector with a chain of five-star hotels.

What started as a single flower shop in 1994 is now a global gifting powerhouse, proving that dreams do bloom with the right vision, resilience, and a little bit of floral magic.

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Archana Chettiar

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I’m Archana R. Chettiar, an experienced content creator with
an affinity for writing on personal finance and other financial content. I
love to write on equity investing, retirement, managing money, and more.

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