India Food Sector

Thali costs drop 13% on-year, led by benign input prices: Report

Veg thali cost dips 13% on-year; non-veg thali also cheaper as vegetable, pulse, and broiler prices cool

India's food processing industry projected to reach $535 bn by FY26-end

India's food processing sector accounts for 7.7 per cent of manufacturing output and supports over 7 million jobs, is projected to reach USD 535 billion by 2025-26, driven by rising consumption, exports, and government focus on 'Make in India', according to industry experts. With AI automation and smart packaging redefining the industry, India has the potential to emerge as the global hub for food and packaging materials, they said at the the Fi India and ProPak India event organised by Informa Markets. According to them, India's organic food market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.13 per cent to USD 10.8 billion by 2033, while the food ingredients market is growing at 7-8 per cent CAGR. Dr Meenakshi Singh, Chief Scientist, Technology Management Directorate, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), said food ingredients form the backbone of the food sector, with packaging playing an equally critical role in ensuring safety and ...

Heart-smart eating: Diet tips to lower risk of sudden cardiac arrest

From leafy greens to healthy fats, cardiologists reveal how smart eating habits reduce cardiac arrest risk

Manufacturing investment gestation rate rises to 5-year peak: CMIE

Global companies push for diversification may play a role

WPI inflation falls to 13-month low in April as food, fuel become cheaper

The sharpest vegetable price fall since October 2023 and a broad-based slowdown in fuel and manufactured goods inflation pulled WPI to its lowest level in over a year

Bikanervala to partner with Montana Group for expanding business in UK

Bikanervala is gearing up for its UK expansion in partnership with retail and hospitality leader The Montana Group, the Indian snack and restaurant chain said on Friday. This move comes after the launch of its new outlet in Sri Ganganagar, marking a homecoming for the brand to its roots in Rajasthan. The Sri Ganganagar outlet not only reinforces Bikanervala's presence in North India but also symbolises its ambition to take India's culinary heritage to global audiences, according to the company. The new outlet features a quick-service restaurant (QSR) format, offering a wide range of Indian sweets, snacks, and multi-cuisine delicacies in a contemporary setting. "Our goal is to make Indian flavours a staple on the global culinary scene, blending tradition with innovation through our 'Reverse Food Drainage' initiative," Manoj Madhukar, Founder of The Montana Group, said. "By fostering collaborations and exploring new markets, we aim to leverage the global fascination with Indian cuis

Policy rates have limited impact on food prices: MPC external members

December marked the second policy review meeting for the external members, who have a fixed four-year term

Govt to streamline regulatory framework for bakery-confectionery industry

Food Processing Industries Secretary Subrata Gupta assured on Wednesday that the government will address the concerns of the bakery and confectionery industry, including streamlining regulatory frameworks. During an interactive session with industry leaders, key focus areas emerged, including regulatory simplification, sustainability, and innovation, an official statement said. The secretary, who chaired the high-level roundtable discussion, assured participants of the government's commitment to addressing sector challenges and fostering collaborative growth. Industry representatives emphasised the need for policy alignments that can support both large and small-scale manufacturers. Critical recommendations included technology adoption, expanding domestic production of critical inputs like cocoa, and integrating informal sector units into the formal ecosystem. The roundtable discussions highlighted potential strategies for enhancing raw material availability, streamlining supply .

Inflation horse brought to the stable, has to be kept on a tight leash: RBI

While the September inflation print may see a significant pick-up as base effects turn adverse and food prices register an upturn, food inflation, the RBI said, is expected to ease by Q4:2024-25

India's sustainable eating habits could save the planet, says WWF report

The WWF's Living Planet Report praises India's food consumption practices as the most sustainable among G20 nations, highlighting their potential to mitigate climate change

Centre approves fortified rice supply continuation till December 2028

Meant to nutritional security challenges, rice fortification involves the adding of Fortified Rice Kernels (FRK), containing micronutrients such as iron, folic acid, and Vitamin B12, into regular rice

Average household spending on food falls below half since 1947: EAC-PM

India's average household spending on food has fallen to less than half for the first time since 1947, according to a recent working paper by the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM). The paper titled 'Changes in India's Food Consumption and Policy Implications: A Comprehensive Analysis of Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 2022-23 and 2011-12 further said significant changes are unfolding in India's food consumption pattern. According to the paper, the share of total household expenditure on food has declined substantially in rural and urban areas across all states and UTs. "It is the first time in modern India (post-independence) that average household spending on food is less than half the overall monthly spending of households and is a marker of significant progress," it said. The paper is a comprehensive analysis of the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey 202223 and comparison with 201112. "Overall, there has been a significant increase in ...

FDI in food processing sector down 30% to Rs 5,037 crore in 2023-24

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in India's food processing sector declined 30 per cent in the last fiscal to Rs 5,037.06 crore, according to official data. The FDI in the food processing sector stood at Rs 7,194.13 crore in 2022-23. According to the data presented by the Food Processing Industries Ministry in Lok Sabha, the FDI in food processing sector stood at Rs 5,290.27 crore in 2021-22 and Rs 2934.12 crore in 2020-21. FDI was Rs 6,414.67 crore in 2019-20; Rs 4430.44 crore in 2018-19; Rs 5,835.62 crore in 2017-18; Rs 4,865.85 crore in 2016-17; and Rs 3,312 crore in 2015-16 in the food processing sector. In order to enhance foreign investment in the food processing sector, the ministry has taken various measures, including 100 per cent FDI permitted through automatic route for the food processing sector subject to sectoral regulations. It has allowed 100 per cent FDI, under the government-approval route, for trading including through e-commerce, in respect of food products ...

Govt to monitor prices of 16 more food items daily to stabilise rates

The Department of Consumer Affairs has already been monitoring the daily prices of 22 essential food commodities from 550 centres across 34 states/Union Territories

We are optimistic about India story, says ITC's Director Hemant Malik

Irrespective of whether we experience tailwinds or headwinds, the market opportunities for our various food categories in India are very large, says Hemant Malik, executive director of ITC

FMCG sector to see subdued growth till September quarter: Kantar report

With El-Nino impact expected to keep weather dry for the first half of the year, the agriculture outlook for 2024 is a mixed bag

Burger King owner to take full control of Carrols Restaurant in $1 bn deal

Restaurant Brands will take full control of Carrols Restaurant Group in a deal that values the largest Burger King franchise in the U.S at about $1 billion, the company said on Tuesday

Jharkhand's over 25K FPS dealers join nation-wide 'Ration Bandh' agitation

Over 25,000 fair price shop dealers from Jharkhand on Monday joined the nation-wide indefinite 'Ration Bandh' call given by All India Fair Price Shop Dealers' Federation (AIFPSDF). The strike might impact over 65 lakh beneficiaries covered under national and state food security schemes in Jharkhand, if it goes long, an office bearer of the dealer association said. General secretary of Jharkhand unit of Fair Price Shop Dealers Association (FPSDA) Sanjay Kundu told PTI that the 'Ration Bandh' call has been given in protest against the Central Government's failure to ensure a minimum monthly income guarantee for the dealers and some other issues. "The agitation has been called to press for various demands of the FPS dealers such as ensuring minimum monthly income guarantee of Rs 50,000 for dealers, implementing the recommendations of World Food Program and allowing distribution through e-PoS device by inserting aadhaar number of the cardholders in case of emergency," he said. Kundu sa

Bikano enters branded spice segment with new sub-brand 'Swad Anusar'

Snacks and sweets maker Bikano has forayed into the branded spice market, a category witnessing fast growth in the last few years. Bikano, the renowned brand under Bikanervala Foods Pvt Ltd, has launched a new sub-brand, 'Swad Anusar' under which it is set to introduce a range of blended spices, the company said in a statement. Bikano will partner with spice farmers and suppliers to ensure quality and sustainability and adhere to relevant certifications from regulatory bodies such as FSSAI, ISO, HACCP, and GMP. Commenting on the development, Bikano Director Manish Aggarwal said, "Our snacks and namkeen have always been cherished for their unique blend of spices that make them enticing and delicious. This inspired us to expand our horizons and offer the same experience to daily meals. Thus, the launch of our Bikano spices sub-brand, Swad Anusar, comes as a natural progression." In the last few years, several leading FMCG companies such as Dabur, Emami, Tata Consumer Products Ltd and

Punjab govt giving major push to food processing sector: CM Bhagwant Mann

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said that the state government is giving a major push to the food processing sector, which will create job opportunities for youth on one hand and immensely benefit farmers as well. "The state government is giving a major push to the food processing sector in Punjab ..," Mann said. The Chief Minister also said that the state government will soon set up 20 dedicated Rural Industrial Hubs across the state. He said that these hubs will be equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure to facilitate industrialists in setting up their units. These hubs will boost industrial development. Mann assured fulsome support and cooperation to the industrialists opting for setting up their units in these hubs adding that the state government is fully committed to accelerate industrial development in Punjab. Punjab is organising the 5th 'Progressive Punjab Investors Summit' on February 23 and 24 in Mohali. As a run up to the Summit, a mini-conclave was org