India's food services industry is poised for remarkable growth, with projections indicating it will cross the $125 billion mark by 2030, according to the latest "How India Eats" report from Swiggy, prepared in collaboration with global consulting firm Kearney. The comprehensive study reveals that organized food service providers are expanding at twice the rate of traditional eateries, signaling a significant transformation in the country's dining landscape.
Global Palates Meet Regional Roots
Indian consumers are demonstrating increasingly diverse culinary preferences, simultaneously embracing international flavors while rediscovering their regional heritage. The data shows explosive growth in global cuisine adoption, with Korean food orders surging 17 times, Vietnamese cuisine increasing 6 times, and Mexican food growing 3.7 times over the past five years.
Beverage trends reflect similar international influences, with search volumes for Boba Tea jumping 11 times and Matcha Tea searches increasing 4 times during the same period. For urban Indians, international dishes like sushi and tacos have transitioned from special occasion treats to regular weeknight meals, indicating a fundamental shift in eating habits.
While global foods gain popularity, there's a parallel resurgence in hyper-regional Indian cuisines. Dishes from Goan, Bihari, and Pahari culinary traditions are growing 2-8 times faster than mainstream options. Traditional beverages are experiencing a renaissance, with buttermilk and sharbat expanding 4-6 times quicker than overall beverage categories. Even classic Indian tea is finding new life through digital platforms, growing three times faster than other drinks.
Organized Sector Driving Market Transformation
The organized food segment is emerging as the primary growth engine, expected to drive over 60% of market expansion and eventually overtake the unorganized sector. Customers are becoming more adventurous in their culinary explorations, with data showing a 20% increase in unique cuisines ordered and 30% growth in restaurant variety per customer.
Rohit Kapoor, CEO of Swiggy Food Marketplace, highlighted how consumer expectations are evolving. "Expectations on speed are being shaped by quick commerce," he noted, revealing that their 10-minute Bolt service now accounts for over 10% of platform orders.
Contrasting Consumption Patterns Emerge
The report identifies several contrasting trends shaping India's food consumption landscape. Late-night dining is experiencing particularly strong growth, with meals ordered after 11 PM growing three times faster than dinner orders. Pizza, cakes, and soft drinks dominate these late-night cravings.
Simultaneously, health-conscious eating is gaining significant traction. Health-focused meals are expanding 2.3 times faster than overall orders, driven by protein-conscious consumers and those monitoring their calorie intake. This dual trend reflects the complex and sometimes contradictory nature of modern Indian eating habits.
Geographical patterns are also shifting dramatically. Growth is spreading beyond major metropolitan areas, with dining-out expansion in smaller cities occurring twice as fast as in top-tier urban centers. This indicates that changing food preferences are becoming a nationwide phenomenon rather than being confined to India's largest cities.
The comprehensive data from Swiggy's report paints a picture of a nation in the midst of a culinary revolution, where traditional tastes coexist with global influences, and convenience matches with health consciousness to create a dynamic and rapidly evolving food services market.
