List of Profitable Business Ideas for Ready to Eat, Convenience Food & Processed Food Manufacturing Projects. Snack Foods Production and Packaging Industry.

Production of Ready to Eat Food, RTE Food, Ready to Serve Food, Ready to Cook Food, Convenience Food, No-Cook Food, Packaged Food, Processed Food Products, Snack Foods, Frozen Foods, Shelf-Stable Foods, Instant Foods.

 

Ready meals in India, growing from a small base of sales, are gaining popularity because of convenience, the availability of offerings providing the authentic taste of Indian dishes and availability across all retail channels. Traditional Indian meals such as poha, upma, biriyani, dal chawal and many others are the most popular and highly consumed dishes which are available in single-portion and family-portion sizes in ready meals formats across retail outlets. These dishes provide alternative meal solutions as they eliminate the hassle of long hours of cooking and the need for cooking aids, thus proving effective for students, the working classes and mainly people who have been skipping meals due to time constraints in their busy work schedules.

Ready to Eat food took its own sweet time to enter the Indian market. Though rising per capita disposable income of consumers, especially upper and lower middle income group, is driving India’s ready-to-eat food market, a large chunk of Indian consumers are still price conscious, which poses a challenge for the ready-to-eat food manufacturers and suppliers. Further minor variation in prices directly affects the preference of brands/products among the Indian consumers.

Increasing workforce, improving consumer lifestyle, and expanding retail formats are the key drivers buoying growth in RTE food products demand in the country. Northern and western region are the key revenue contributors in the RTE food market, with major demand emanating from cities like Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, etc. Segment wise, shelf stable RTE food demand exceeds that of frozen RTE food in the country. This is attributable to the fact that frozen RTE food needs proper refrigeration for maintaining their shelf life. However, high price of RTE food products is a major factor posing threat as Indian consumers are innately price conscious and their preferences generally change with even slightest change in price.

The ready to eat market in India is showing remarkable growth owing to the growing income & consumption levels of the Indian consumers. In addition to this, rapid urbanization is also augmenting the demand for ready to eat products. Urban people suffer from time crunch due to their busy work schedules and this is leading to increased dependence on ready to eat foods. This is further aided with the penetration and availability of a wide variety of ready to eat products in different packaging formats at various retail points. All these factors are indicating towards the bright future of the Indian ready to eat market in the coming years.

The market is anticipated to grow on account of increasing working population, growing per capita disposable income, rising per capita expenditure on prepared food, increasing middle class and affluent consumers, etc. With the rising employment opportunities and changing lifestyle of consumers, the demand for ready-to-eat food products in the country is projected to grow during the forecast period as well. India has a large base of young consumers, who form majority of the country’s workforce. These young consumers hardly find time for traditional cooking due to their busylife styles which further creates significant potential for ready-to-eat food products.

The growth in quick service restaurants, increasing population of working women, millennial population, busy work schedules, and retail chains are the key contributors in increasing the awareness about the ready-to-eat products among consumers. The global ready-to-eat food products market is segmented by product type, packaging and distribution channel. The meat/poultry segment is projected to account for the largest share by value. In developed countries, food consumption is expected to arise mainly from the slow rate of population growth rather than the excess in per capita consumption. Developing countries, on the other hand, are expected to account for an increased food demand, due to mounting population, as well as surplus per capita food consumption. India has a large base of young consumers, who form the majority of the country’s workforce and are the primary consumers. However, unhealthy substitutes, low quality, taste and shift towards a healthier lifestyle is likely to hinder market growth over the coming years. A large chunk of Indian consumers are still price conscious, which poses a challenge to the ready-to-eat food manufacturers and suppliers.

Pasta Products

Demand : Past and Future
Year	(In '000 Metric Tonne)
1990-91	46.00
2000-01	115.00
2001-02	125.90
2002-03	136.60
2003-04	148.20
2004-05	160.45
2005-06	173.40
2006-07	187.00
2007-08	201.15
2008-09	216.00
2009-10	231.60
2010-11	247.80
2011-12	265.00
2012-13	282.76
2013-14	301.70
2014-15	322.00
2015-16	347.76
2016-17	375.58
2017-18	405.63
2018-19	438.08
2019-20	473.12
2024-25	711.42

 

The heat and eat food industry in India, valued at INR 2,370 million (~USD 39.5 million) in FY 2014, has been growing at a CAGR 18% for the last three years. The industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 22% in the next five years till FY 2019 due to rapid urbanization, increasing disposable income, and an expected improvement in retail infrastructure.

The heat and eat food category has a tremendous growth opportunity in the near future due to a growing youth population and working woman segment. The heat and eat category of food products is largely export-driven as it is yet to establish a firm footing in the Indian retail market. However, the domestic markets constitute 40% of the total revenues of heat and eat products. Maximum sales of these products occur in urban areas, especially in tier I cities where retail infrastructure is significantly developed.

Potato Chips/Namkeens

Demand : Past and Future
Year	(In '000 Metric Tonne)
1990-91	255
2000-01	470
2001-02	505
2002-03	535
2003-04	570
2004-05	605
2005-06	641
2006-07	683
2007-08	731
2008-09	786
2009-10	848
2010-11	912
2011-12	976
2012-13	1090
2013-14	1197
2014-15	1272
2015-16	1369
2016-17	1470
2017-18	1579
2018-19	1699
2019-20	1826
2024-25	2442

 

Ready-to-eat food must comply with all USDA guidelines related to processing, washing, drying, cooling, freezing, and packaging. In terms of value, the global ready-to-eat food products market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period (2016–2026) and is estimated to be valued at US$ 195.3 Bn by the end of 2026.

Globally, the demand for ready-to-eat (RTE) food products has been increasing over the last few years on account of busier lifestyle of consumers and their rising income levels. Due to increased employment opportunities, a large number of people are migrating from tier 1 and tier 2 cities to metropolitans, which is an important driver for RTE food products in the country. Nuclear families and bachelors residing in metros for study or employment purpose are among the major consumers of RTE food products in India. The number of working women is particularly on the rise, which is again driving the demand for RTE food products. All these factors are creating significant awareness about ready meals among consumers. Growth in retail chains and outlets is also adding to the product awareness among consumers in the country.

The global ready-to-eat food products market is segmented on the basis of Product Type (Meat/Poultry, Cereal Based, Vegetable Based, Others), Packaging (Canned, Frozen or Chilled, Retort, Others), and Distribution Channel (Hypermarket/Supermarket, Convenience/Departmental Store, Specialty Store, Online Store, Others).

Factors such as increasing population of working women, growing millennial population, busy work schedules, and on-the-go consumption habits are expected to fuel revenue growth of the global ready-to-eat food products market. Also, the increase in disposable income and consumer preferences for healthy and convenient food coupled with the rising demand for snacks and fried food products are expected to further boost the demand for ready-to-eat food products. Globally, the growth of organized retail has led to a widespread supply of ready-to-eat food products through a wide distribution network. These factors are expected to bolster the growth of the global ready-to-eat food products market in the coming years. However, unhealthy substitutes and low quality and taste along with an increasing shift towards a healthier lifestyle is likely to hinder market growth in the coming years.

Ready to eat food market is likely to expand with a higher pace owing to high consumer acceptance for such foods globally. Ready to eat food products are more popular among the younger working class consumers as they hardly find time to cook food due to their busy lifestyle. Owing to expand the market among these consumers, ready to eat food manufacturers are focused on providing low-cost affordable products.

Ready to Mix food market holds an essential place under convenience food segment owing to its benefits such as less time to prepare, easy consumption and low caloric. Ready to Mix food market is further segmented on the basis of the application type and by distribution type. By application type, it includes snacks mix, dessert mix and curry mix.

By distribution type, it is divided into retailers, Kirana shops, online purchase and others. Among the application type, snacks mix are expected to record a higher CAGR as compared to the other ready mixes from 2014 to 2020. However, by application type, curry mix is also expected to witness a substantial growth during the forecast period.

Increase awareness about ready to mix food products through promotional methods like advertising, exhibitions, seminars, workshops and providing lucrative margins to distributors is expected to strengthen the partnership across the value chain. Increasing product visibility in modern retail formats as retail shelf space and product availability is predicted to create demand for ready to mix food products among the consumers in India. Since, consumer behaviour and perception is uncertain and unpredictable, it is a concern for companies in this market. Recognition of ready to mix food as an ingredient in food and beverages sector, increasing awareness through online marketing, and strengthening supply chain in India are key focus areas for companies in this market.

 

Here are few Projects for Startup:

READY TO EAT FOOD (RETORT PACKAGING) (VEGETABLE PULAO, DAL MAKHANI, PALAK, RAJMAH, POTATO PEAS & MUTTER MUSHROOM)

Ready to Eat Meals like already cooked or prepared lunch & dinner are relatively new products which came in market only a few years back and are now sold through retail general stores in especially made sealed aluminum laminates. Read more

INSTANT NOODLES

Instant noodles is a ready to cook and serve snack food which has become very popular in India in the recent years after its introduction on mass scale of machine. The instant noodles are manufactured in two kinds, namely seasoned noodles and plain noodles with soup bag. Read more

MACARONI, VERMICELLI & ATTA NOODLES

Macaroni are made from wheat flour, carbonic salt water, pure salt, soft water and other additives. Carbonic salt water with sodium or potassium carbonate as the main constituent is an important additive giving the stickiness, elasticity, smoothness and good taste. Read more

VERMICELLI, NOODLES AND CHERRY (TOOTI FRUITY)

Vermicelli, commonly known as "SAVAT" in India, is such an ancient symbol of festival. The vermicelli is in use since the early period of Indian civilization. Vermicelli nowadays is used by all community irrespective of their caste, religion and country. It is generally prepared at the occasion of Rakshabandhan or Rakhee by Hindus, Read more

MACARONI

Macaroni is made from wheat flour, carbonic salt water, pure salt, soft water and other additives. The macaroni industry has been developed in Japan in 1962. However, if macaroni manufacturing unit installed in India, it can be exported to Japan U.K., USA., U.S.S.R., Canada, Germany and number of other countries. Read more

KHAKRA-READY TO EAT (RTE) CONVENIENCE FOOD

Khakra is an Indian traditional ready to eat snack food based on wheat. It is known for its crisp texture and baked flavour. It can be consumed as breakfast/snack food and can also fit into the main meal. It is a traditional Gujarat food and is quite familiar in Gujarat and other states in India. Read more

TOMATO CONCENTRATE & KETCHUP

Fresh tomatoes are very refreshing and appetizing. They are a good source of vitamin C. Most of the tomatoes products are made from tomato pulp, which is unflavoured finally divided flesh and juice separated from skins and seeds. Tomato paste is a concentrated tomato juice or pulp without seeds and skin, containing not less than 25% tomato solid. Read more

INSTANT TEA

Instant tea is manufactured in a several countries but production and consumption in the United States is greater than in the rest of the world. The basic process for manufacture of instant tea as a soluble powder from dry tea leaf includes extraction, concentration and drying. Read more

INSTANT COFFEE

Instant Coffee is used extensively as a beverages and is employed also as a flavouring material. Brooke Bond India Ltd. and Food specialities Ltd. are the key manufacture of Instant Coffee. Read more

INSTANT GINGER POWDER DRINK

Ginger is one of the oldest and most important spices used in different kinds of food preparation. Ginger possesses a warm pungent taste and a pleasant odor, hence it has a wide use as a flavoring in numerous food preparation, beverages, ginger bread, soups, pickles and many soft drinks. Read more

MANGO PICKLES

Mango is one of the best fruits in India. There are number of products produced from mango like mango juice, mango pulp, mango flavour, mango kernel oil, mango pickles and powder etc. which are well accepted throughout India and in aboard. There are some manufacturers in organized sector and some are in unorganized sector. Read more

JAM, JELLY, CHUTNEY, PICKLES & SQUASHES

Among preserved fruits, jam, jellies, pickles and squashes forms an important class of products. Apart from fruit juices, squashes are also used in the form of drinks. These are found as attractive items in the functions. Sauces, ketchup, jams and jellies are used with breads etc. during snacks. Read more

RICE AND CORN FLAKES

Corn flakes being one of the most nutritious food and is consumed as breakfast food not only in India but elsewhere in the world. Basically it is prepared from maize. Maize is one of the important commercial food grains-grown abudantly in our country. Rice flakes are already occupying an important status of a complete food. Read more

CORN FLAKES

Corn flakes being one of most nutritious foods and is consumed as breakfast food not only in India but elsewhere in the world. Corn flakes have very good taste. Though