Sweet Cravings and Savoury Surges: The Rising Demand for Sweets & Namkeen
Sweet Cravings and Savoury Surges: The Rising Demand for Sweets & Namkeen Sweets and namkeen are essential parts of Indian cuisine, cherished for their diverse flavours and textures. Sweets, or mithai, are a beloved category of desserts made from ingredients like milk, sugar, and nuts, and are often infused with aromatic spices. From traditional gulab jamuns to rich barfis, these sweets are a symbol of celebration, shared during festivals, weddings, and religious rituals. But it’s not just about special occasions – many Indians enjoy sweets as a daily indulgence or a treat with their morning chai.
On the other hand, namkeen represents a whole world of savoury snacks. These crunchy, spicy, and tangy delights appeal to those with a taste for bold flavours. Popular namkeen snacks like bhujia, sev, and samosas are often paired with drinks, enjoyed as appetizers.
Factors Behind the Increasing Demand:-
Changing Lifestyles: With busy work schedules and an increasing number of people opting for ready-to-eat foods, the demand for packaged sweets and namkeen has risen.
Rising Disposable Incomes: As the middle class in India continues to grow, more people have the purchasing power to indulge in these products more frequently. People are willing to spend on quality sweets and namkeen, especially for festivals, celebrations, or as part of daily life.
Urbanization and Social Influences: Urbanization has brought with it greater access to packaged sweets and snacks in urban markets and supermarkets. Additionally, exposure to global food trends has encouraged younger generations to explore traditional Indian snacks.
Festivals and Celebrations: Sweets and namkeen are an integral part of Indian festivals like Diwali, Holi, and Eid. As India’s festive calendar continues to grow with more celebrations, there’s an increasing need for ready-made sweets and snacks.
Healthier Variants and Innovations: The increasing focus on healthier lifestyles has led to the creation of healthier sweets and namkeen options, like sugar-free sweets, low-oil namkeen, or those made with millets.
Market Growth and Trends
The sweets and namkeen market in India has witnessed significant growth over the past decade. This growth can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing disposable income of consumers, urbanization, and the evolving preferences of the Indian population.
Growing Industry: The Indian snacks market, which includes both sweets and namkeen, is projected to continue its upward trajectory.
The Indian packaged snack market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 10-12%.
Rise in Consumer Spending: As disposable incomes rise, more consumers are willing to spend on high-quality and premium sweets and namkeen.
Economic Growth: India’s overall economic growth, especially in the middle class, is boosting the market. As people’s incomes grow, there is more demand for not only traditional sweets but also packaged snacks and ready-to-eat namkeen.
Online Shopping and E-commerce
The rise of e-commerce has had a significant impact on the sweets and namkeen market:
Convenience of Online Shopping: With the proliferation of online shopping platforms like Amazon, Big Basket, Flipkart, and specialized regional online stores, consumers can now easily access a wide variety of sweets and namkeen from the comfort of their homes. This has made it easier for consumers, especially in smaller cities and rural areas, to access premium and regional sweets that were once difficult to find.
Direct-to-Consumer Brands: Many regional sweets and namkeen brands have embraced the direct-to-consumer (D2C) model, setting up their own ecommerce platforms to cater to the growing demand. Brands such as Haldiram’s, Bikanervala, and Shree Mahavir Sweets have made their products available
online, reaching new markets beyond just their physical stores.
Subscription Models: Some brands have also introduced subscription models, where customers can sign up to receive regular deliveries of sweets and namkeen.
Regional and Global Expansion
Regional Preferences: Regional varieties of sweets and namkeen continue to be a significant part of the market. Brands are focusing on capturing regional tastes and preferences, from South Indian murukku to North Indian kachoris and petals.
Global Reach: As the Indian diaspora expands globally, sweets and namkeen have found a market abroad. Countries with large Indian populations, such as the US, UK, and Middle Eastern nations, are seeing an increasing demand for authentic Indian sweets and snacks.
Role of consultants in this growth of the industry
As the demand for sweets and namkeen continues to rise, food industry consultants play a vital role in shaping the future of the industry. Their expertise in product innovation helps brands create exciting flavours and healthier alternatives, such as baked namkeen or sugar-free mithai, by combining food science with market trends.
Food consultants also cater to the growing health and wellness focus, guiding brands to develop low-calorie, low-fat, or plant-based options while incorporating superfoods. Packaging and branding are also key areas where food consultants add value, advising on sustainable, eco-friendly solutions to attract environmentally conscious consumers.
Additionally, food industry consultants provide strategic guidance for brands looking to expand regionally or internationally, ensuring products meet local preferences, dietary
needs, and regulations. Looking to gain more insights on the food industry…contact us for food business
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