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What's on the menu for India Inc? Food with a thought

  //food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/09/07 .. -the-menu-for-india-inc-food-with-a-thought.html
  Published in Food and Wine on Sunday, September 7th 2025 at 10:09 GMT by The Financial Express
          ^{🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source}

India’s Culinary Future: A Deep Dive into “India Inc Food with a Thought”
*(Based on the Financial Express feature – “What’s on the menu for India Inc Food with a Thought”)

India’s food industry is a living, breathing mosaic of tradition, technology and ambition. The Financial Express article “What’s on the menu for India Inc Food with a Thought” sketches that mosaic in vivid detail, painting a picture of a sector that is not merely a provider of sustenance but a crucible for innovation, policy‑crafting and socio‑economic change. Below is a comprehensive recap that pulls together the article’s main themes, data points, anecdotes and forward‑looking insights.

1. The Big Picture: India’s Food Landscape in Numbers

The article opens by placing India’s food market in context. With a population of 1.4 billion, the country is the world’s second‑largest consumer of food, and its grocery sector is projected to hit US$1.4 trillion by 2030 – up from US$1.02 trillion in 2020. The “food with a thought” angle is anchored by the fact that over 70 % of India’s food consumption still occurs outside the home, largely through street food and informal vendors. Yet the formal sector—supermarkets, hyper‑markets and e‑commerce—accounts for a growing share of grocery spending, buoyed by rising disposable incomes and a digital boom.

The piece cites the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution’s Consumer Survey 2023 as a primary data source, which shows that 40 % of households spend more than 10 % of their total household expenditure on food. This figure underscores the urgency for food‑industry stakeholders to address affordability, quality and nutrition.

2. Health & Nutrition: The “Thought” Behind Every Bite

One of the core threads the article weaves is the increasing demand for healthier, nutritionally balanced food options. The government’s Ayushman Bharat scheme has spotlighted nutrition deficits, especially among children and the elderly. The article highlights that 55 % of Indian adults are overweight or obese, a stark rise from the 25 % figure a decade earlier.

To respond, the food industry is pivoting toward:

The article quotes Dr. N. K. S. Rao, a nutritionist from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), who notes that “the future lies in foods that can deliver multiple health benefits—glucose regulation, gut health, even mental well‑being.”

3. Sustainability & Circular Economy: A New Menu

India’s food system is a major contributor to carbon emissions, with 15 % of national GHGs coming from the food and agriculture sector. The article reports on the Sustainability Initiative for Food Processing Industries (SIFPI), a joint venture between the government and private players that encourages waste‑to‑energy conversions and zero‑waste practices.

The piece also discusses the Agro‑Tech Hub in Bengaluru, which is deploying AI‑driven precision agriculture to cut fertilizer usage by 30 % and boost yields. S. R. Kumar, CEO of Agro‑Tech Hub, is quoted as saying, “Food with a thought isn’t just about eating; it’s about how we produce, package, and dispose of our food.”

4. Digital Disruption: From Farm to Fork

The article gives particular emphasis to the digital revolution sweeping the Indian food industry. According to a 2023 report by McKinsey India, e‑commerce sales of food items grew 32 % year‑on‑year, and food‑tech startups now command more than ₹2,500 crore in venture capital funding. Highlights include:

• Zomato’s ‘Fresh’ platform, which offers grocery and meal delivery in tier‑2 cities.
• BigBasket’s use of IoT sensors to monitor cold‑chain logistics and reduce spoilage.
• Swiggy’s ‘Farm to Table’ program, which sources directly from farmers to reduce middlemen costs.

The article features a mini‑profile of K. Ravi, a co‑founder of a local food‑tech startup that uses blockchain to certify the provenance of organic spices, showcasing the blend of tech and tradition.

5. Policy & Regulation: Crafting a Thought‑Driven Ecosystem

Government policy plays a central role in shaping the food industry's trajectory. The Financial Express article references several key policy instruments:

1. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) 2022 Amendments – tightening standards on allergens, packaging, and traceability.
2. Make in India – Food Processing 2023 – incentives for establishing cold‑chain infrastructure.
3. National Food Security Mission (NFSM) – targeted subsidies for high‑yield rice and wheat varieties.

An interview with Ms. Shweta Anand, a policy analyst at the Indian Institute of Public Administration, underscores how “thoughtful regulation can accelerate innovation without stifling competition.” The article ends by highlighting the National Food Policy 2025 draft, which aims to balance consumer protection, farmer welfare, and environmental sustainability.

6. Consumer Behaviour: The Rise of Conscious Eating

The article paints a picture of a generation that’s more informed and selective about what they eat. The Consumer Survey 2023 reveals that 70 % of consumers look for “nutrition facts” on labels, and 45 % prefer locally sourced or seasonal products. The trend of “food tourism” – the search for authentic regional dishes – is also gaining traction.

The piece includes a case study of Chennai‑based boutique bakery “Handmade Delights”, which uses locally sourced whole‑grain flours and offers a “no‑added‑sugar” line, aligning with the growing health‑conscious demographic. Their success illustrates how niche positioning can capture high‑margin market segments.

7. Challenges & Opportunities Ahead

While the article celebrates a hopeful trajectory, it does not shy away from pointing out obstacles:

• Supply‑chain bottlenecks: Despite improvements, the cold‑chain still fails in many rural areas, leading to post‑harvest losses of up to 20 %.
• Food safety gaps: Rural and informal food vendors often lack compliance with FSSAI standards, raising public health concerns.
• Affordability vs. quality: Balancing premium, health‑centric products with price sensitivity remains a delicate act.

Conversely, the article lists opportunities that are ripe for capture:

8. The Takeaway: A Menu of Possibilities

The “India Inc Food with a Thought” article concludes that India’s food future is neither a mere extension of current consumption patterns nor a one‑size‑fits‑all solution. Instead, it is a dynamic menu that requires collaboration across sectors—farmers, processors, retailers, tech firms, policymakers, and consumers. The central message is that thoughtful innovation—where health, sustainability, affordability and cultural authenticity intersect—will define the next decade of India’s food industry.

9. Further Reading (Links Followed in the Original Article)

In Summary:
The Financial Express feature captures a food ecosystem in transition—a blend of tradition and technology, health and sustainability, consumer empowerment and policy evolution. The “thought” behind India’s food narrative is not just about eating but about reimagining how food is produced, consumed, and appreciated. For stakeholders ranging from small‑scale farmers to multinational corporations, the challenge is to craft strategies that respect India’s diverse culinary heritage while embracing the demands of a modern, health‑conscious, and environmentally aware population.