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29 March 2024

Foreign firms seek a bite of India's $90bln food market

Published
By Agencies

 

When Kellogg launched breakfast cereal in India 14 years ago, it underestimated the stranglehold of traditional cooked breakfasts.

Cartons of cornflakes sat unsold on shop shelves.

Those who ventured to buy cereal ate it with hot milk, another ritual as until recently milk was rarely pasteurised in India, and they were put off by the soggy consistency with none of the crackle and pop promised by the advertisements.

Kellogg fought back with a massive educational campaign and introduced products to suit local tastes such as Basmati rice flakes and mango-flavoured cereal for sweet-toothed Indians. It also made small packs for 10 rupees ($0.25) to encourage trial.

"It would be foolhardy for me to say Kellogg has replaced cooked breakfast ... I don't think we can ever hope for that," said Anupam Dutta, managing director of Kellogg India.

"But we've become a part of the consideration set for breakfast in many Indian homes, and that's a tipping point," he said.

Getting a foothold in India's processed foods market, estimated to be worth $90 billion, requires persistence and a willingness to adapt products to suit culinary and cultural preferences, experts say.

Rising incomes, more working women, modern stores and greater culinary adaptation are helping food giants such as Pepsico, Nestle, Unilever, McDonald's and Yum Brands get a piece of the market.

"Every company that wants a share has to invest heavily, localise extensively and be very patient," said Jayanta Roy, at consultancy Frost Sullivan, which estimates that only a third of the processed foods market is in the hands of large Indian and multinational firms. The rest is controlled by regional firms.

MASS OR NICHE

Culinary adaptation appears to be key. Pepsi has had a big hit with ethnic salty snacks and also sells "aam panna", or green mango nectar, along with its colas.

Nestle pushed its Milkmaid condensed milk as being ideal for traditional Indian sweets. But it tasted more success with Maggi noodles, a bold step in a nation divided between eaters of rice and "roti" (flat wheat bread).

Maggi soon became a staple in school lunch boxes, helped by the ethnic "masala" (mixed spices) flavour. Nestle recently launched packaged yogurt, taking on another time-honoured tradition, while French rival Danone, along with Yakult Honsha, launched yogurt probiotic drinks.

A few years back, Indian and foreign firms struggled to push packaged foods. But these days it's much easier to break into the market thanks to a younger population, higher incomes, new technologies and a growing middle class, estimated at some 50 million households.

"We have a young population with higher disposable incomes, living away from the large joint families and seeking greater convenience," said Hemant Kalbag, head of consultancy AT Kearney's retail practice.

He estimates processed foods will grow at about 15 per cent annually over the next four years.

Large Indian firms are also muscling their way to the table. Top cigarette maker ITC Ltd is adding to its range of instant ethnic foods and pasta, cookies and salty snacks.

"Increasingly, Indian consumption patterns are mirroring global trends such as a preference for protein and for functional foods," said Pankaj Gupta, head of consumer and retail practice at consultancy Tata Strategic Management Group.

"So companies can choose to go after the mass market or focus on niche segments which are also viable now," he said.

MCDELIVERY

Foreign fast-food chains McDonald's and Domino's Pizza are addding more vegetarian and ethnic options.

McDonald's, which is doubling its outlets in India to nearly 300 this year, does not sell beef products in keeping with the sensitivity of the dominant Hindu population.

Half its menu is vegetarian, with best-sellers like the McAloo Tikki (potato patty) Burger. It also has more sit-down eateries for large Indian families and home delivery, a first. Domino's also has a dine-in option in several locations.

Nimble Indian firms are imitating these fast food giants to attract youngsters, who make up about half of India's billion-plus population.

Jumbo King, a Mumbai-based eatery is mass producing "vada pav", a spiced potato patty in a bun, using modified cookie dough machines and temperature-controlled stoves, a far cry from the hand-assembled snack sold by street hawkers.

"We wanted to give the vada pav a modern look," said Dheeraj Gupta, head of Jumbo King, which also has a whole-wheat option.

"Our inspiration is clearly McDonald's and Subway," he said.

Despite the opportunity, challenges remain: cumbersome tax rules give smaller local firms an edge. An inadequate cold chain and storage facilities result in wastage of nearly 40 per cent of all fresh produce.


"We need stronger legislation on food safety, more robust supply chains and improvements in the cold chain," Kalbag said.

The government as well as modern retailers are addressing these issues, with new laws on packaging and labelling, as well as greater investments in the supply chain.

Changing lifestyles and rising prosperity are also driving the move to processed foods and Indian taste buds are becoming more adventurous.

So products such as Unilever's 'Make a Meal' in a range of flavours including one with a Chinese bent are filling supermarket trolleys alongside traditional favourites such as packages of tender coconut water and spiced buttermilk. "The market's constantly evolving and creating demand for products that you never thought would have had a chance," said Kellogg's Dutta. (Reuters)