Nikhil Kamath, co-founder of Zerodha, recently shared an observation of his visit to Singapore: residents of the city barely cooks at home, and many have not even have kitchens. By taking at X, Kamath wondered if India could follow a similar trend – and if so, what it would mean for the catering industry.
“If India followed this trend, investing / opening restaurants would be a massive opportunity,” he wrote.
But he highlighted a striking difference – India has no restaurant chains that operate on the scale of the Southeast Asian brands. With the increase in available income and exchange models, Kamath asked its restaurateurs: * What change could make the food industry of India pros? *
Kamath supported his reflections with the data. He shared projections indicating that the Indian Food Services Market, currently assessed at 4-5 Lakh crores, should almost double at 9-10 Lakh crores by 2030. By then, the Indians should eat 7 to 8 times per month, with one in five food orders from online delivery – an area ready for growth of 2.8x. However, homemade meals continue to dominate Indian eating habits.
One of the slides also highlighted a critical problem: nutritional gaps. More than 80% of Indians do not meet the daily needs of protein. A comparison of food intake compared to the recommended levels has shown dependence on cereals, with deficits in milk, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Urban India consumes more fats, but protein intake remains low in all demographic data.
At the same time, transformed food consumption increases. The edible oil intake has doubled in two decades, and expenses in processed drinks and foods tripled between 2012 and 2023. Various food dependence also leads to health risks – frequent consumption is linked to a risk 27% type 2 diabetes.
However, there is a parallel tendency towards a conscious diet. Healthy snacks gain ground, with 70% of Indians nibbling twice a day and 60% making aware of the calories. The market for snacks rich in nutrients – directed by brands like Yoga Bar and Surrp Farm – is expected to reach $ 6.4 billion by 2030.
Kamath’s ideas paint a complex table: the food industry of India is on the verge of transformation, but deep rooted cultural habits, nutritional challenges and evolutionary consumption trends will determine how they are going.
