January 7, 2026 – Situated within a challenging global macro context, Indian consumers’ consumption patterns and preferences are continuing to evolve. Taste and affordability shape everyday food choices and food trends, but health, quality, and safety are also essential to capturing the conscious consumer and building trust. Purposeful consumption tied to lifestyle choices are another key factor, with plant-based being an important category for the Indian market. Innova’s “Category Growth Drivers in India” report delves deeper into these major influences in the Indian food and beverage market across categories.
Global Concerns on a Local Scale
Around the world, consumers are concerned about a range of macro factors that are affecting their daily life. The environment, well-being, and the economy are a few of the leading challenges impacting global consumers. When it comes to health, aging populations, obesity levels, and the widespread mental health crisis create a challenging environment for healthcare systems. On a personal level, finances and health are also top issues of concern for the average consumer, with job insecurity ranking in the top five global issues of concern. Overall, these concerns are influencing consumers’ preferences and on a local scale, food trends in India.
Evolving Beverage Consumption Patterns
According to Innova’s food and beverage trends research, Indian consumers are increasingly favoring alcoholic beverages. However, the market demonstrates a significantly lower purchasing penetration for alcoholic beverages in comparison to the global average. Out of those who do consume alcoholic beverage choices, 2 in 5 consumers cite brand, taste, and freshness as the top attributes. Premium ingredients, organic, traditionally crafted, and no artificial flavors are also considered significant. At the same time, evolving lifestyle choices and the push for novelty are ultimately driving the non-alcoholic beverage category, with product safety, organic, and real ingredients being important claims.
In the soft drink category, taste and health benefits predominantly drive purchases. For example, bottled water is viewed as a “healthier choice,” driving consumption. Indian consumers also consider taste, brand, and freshness as key elements of soft drink products, alongside health benefits. These same factors also drive the hot beverage category, with these beverages remaining a breakfast and evening staple across the Indian market.
Which Staples Remain Relevant for Indian Consumers?
Food trends in India show that bread and breakfast cereals remain household staples, and the categories have experienced overall growth over the last twelve months. Freshness, brand, and health benefits are the most influential attributes for bread and bread products that have fueled increased consumption. Claims such as organic, wholegrain, protein, and real ingredients are also influential. Similar to the bread category, health benefits, freshness, and brand are also top influencers of cereal purchases for Indian consumers, with source of fiber, protein, plant-based, and reduced sugar ranking high in importance. Consumers in the Indian market also demonstrate interest in functional and premium quality ingredients.
Due to lifestyle choices, the Indian market has significantly lower meat consumption than the rest of the world, with a purchasing penetration of 49% versus the global average of 76%. Nevertheless, both meat and fish categories have experienced growth, with freshness, taste, health, and cost acting as the main drivers for consumers and food trends in the category. Additionally, food trends demonstrate that 1 in 3 consumers look for omega-3/6 content in seafood, while protein and product safety claims remain relevant for meat purchases.
Dairy Purchases Are Shaped by Health-Driven Claims
The purchasing penetration of dairy products in the Indian market stands at 68%, slightly below the global average. Cheese and spoonable yogurts also remain less popular food trends in India, yet milk flavored drinks exceed global averages. Nevertheless, all three categories have experienced positive net change over the last year. In dairy products overall, health claims are prioritized by Indian consumers, with organic, product safety, and real ingredient claims ranking among the top preferences.
What do Consumers Look for in Meal Preparation Products?
When approaching meal preparation purchases, Indian consumers favor taste, clean label, and real ingredients as top priorities, which is reflected by the food trends in India . Although the purchasing penetration for meal preparation categories is less than global percentages, changes in taste preferences, greater variety and novelty, and limited time have led to increased consumption of meal preparation products. Bouillons, seasonings, cooking sauces, dips, ready meals, dips, and sweet and savory spreads fall under this category. Moreover, product safety, real ingredients, and protein are among leading claims when observing food trends. In addition, high source of protein claims are highly preferred and exceed global averages across categories.
Snacks and Treats Choices Driven by Premium-Quality Claims
In comparison to global averages, Indian consumers place higher value on premium-quality claims across snacks and treat categories. According to Innova’s food trends research in India, one of the most notable differences can be seen in the desserts and ice cream category. When it comes to consumption patterns, shifts in lifestyle, health benefits, and novelty are fueling the increased intake of snacks and treats. Health benefits are also the major driver of cereal and energy bar consumption, noted by 64% of consumers in the Indian market. Functional ingredients and plant-based are other food trends that also appeal to consumers.
Demand for Plant-Based and Special Diets in India
In the Indian market, purchasing penetration for plant-based and special diets over-indexes the global average across categories, from meat substitutes to dairy alternatives and sports nutrition. In plant-based food trends and choices, freshness and health benefits are essential to Indian consumers, propelling meat and dairy alternative purchases. Health and environmental consciousness have also played an important role in increased consumption. Moreover, organic, product safety, fiber, and vegetarian are emphasized as claims that over 25% of Indian consumers look for when making purchasing decisions.
What’s Next for Food and Beverage Trends in India?
As taste and freshness are top of mind for Indian consumers, brands can take advantage and highlight “fresh-made” appeal with locally inspired flavors and freshness cues. Regional variants or natural flavor enhancers can help tailor products to consumers looking to balance satisfaction and trust. Plant-based food trends are also relevant in the market, so localizing plant-based innovation with Indian flavors and formats, such as lentil-based ready meals can help fuel growth. Fortified and functional positioning will also resonate with health-conscious consumers.
This article is based on Innova’s Category Growth Drivers in India report. This report is available to purchase or with an Innova Reports subscription. Reach out to find out more