India Ready-to-Cook Food Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Instant Noodles and Pasta, Soups and Gravies, Frozen and Chilled Meals, Ready-to-Mix, Snacks and Savory Items, and Others), By Ingredient Type (Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets and Hypermarkets, Convenience Stores, Online Retail (e-commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer), and Specialty Stores), By Packaging Format (Frozen/Chilled Packaging, Vacuum-Sealed Packaging, Canned Packaging, Retort Packaging, and Others), By Cuisine Type (Asian, Western, Latin American, and Middle Eastern), By End-User (Residential (households) and Food Service Operations), and India Ready-to-Cook Food Market Insights, Industry Trend, Forecasts to 2035.

India Ready-to-Cook Food Market Insights Forecasts to 2035

• India Ready to Cook Food market in India stands at INR 2150 Cr in 2019
• India Ready to Cook Food market in India stands at INR 4880 Cr in 2019
• The India Ready to Cook Food market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18% from 2025 to 2035

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Market Overview

The India Ready-to-Cook (RTC) Food Market refers to the segment offering semi-prepared meals that require minimal cooking, catering to the growing demand for convenience and quick meal solutions. Driven by rapid urbanization, busy lifestyles, rising disposable incomes, and increasing acceptance of packaged foods, the market is witnessing strong growth. Health-focused innovations, such as fortified and low-preservative RTC products, are further boosting demand. Recent government initiatives like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing sector and investments in cold-chain infrastructure are supporting industry expansion, enabling domestic players and startups to scale operations and meet both local and export demand.

 

Report Coverage

This research report categorizes the market for the India Ready-to-Cook Food market based on various segments and regions and forecasts revenue growth and analyzes trends in each submarket. The report analyses the key growth drivers, opportunities, and challenges influencing the India Ready-to-Cook Food market. Recent market developments and competitive strategies such as expansion, product launch, and development, partnership, merger, and acquisition have been included to draw the competitive landscape in the market. The report strategically identifies and profiles the key market players and analyses their core competencies in each sub-segment of the India Ready-to-Cook Food market.

 

Driving Factors

The India Ready-to-Cook (RTC) Food Market is driven by rapid urbanization, changing consumer lifestyles, and the rising need for convenient meal options. Increasing disposable incomes and the growing working population are boosting demand for quick, hassle-free meals. Health-conscious consumers are also fueling demand for nutritious and preservative-free RTC products. Additionally, the expansion of e-commerce platforms and modern retail channels, along with innovative product offerings by domestic and global players, are accelerating market penetration and making RTC foods more accessible nationwide.

 

Restraining Factors

The India Ready-to-Cook (RTC) Food Market faces restraints such as consumer concerns over preservatives, artificial additives, and perceived lack of freshness. Limited awareness in rural areas and inadequate cold-chain infrastructure also hinder growth. Additionally, intense competition and fluctuating raw material prices pose challenges for manufacturers in maintaining quality and affordability.

 

Market Segmentation

The India Ready-to-Cook Food market share is classified into product type, ingredient type, distribution channel, packaging format, cuisine type, and end-user.

• The instant noodles & pasta segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

 

The India ready-to-cook food market is segmented by product type into instant noodles and pasta, soups and gravies, frozen and chilled meals, ready-to-mix, snacks and savory items, and others. Among these, the instant noodles & pasta segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Growing rapidly due to affordability, convenience, diverse flavors, rising urbanization, a busy working population, and strong retail and e-commerce penetration driving higher accessibility and demand.

 

• The vegetarian segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The India ready-to-cook food market is segmented by ingredient type into vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Among these, the vegetarian segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The segment is projected to grow rapidly due to rising health consciousness, increasing adoption of vegetarian and vegan diets, growing demand for plant-based protein options, and wider availability of innovative, convenient vegetarian RTC products across retail and online platforms.

 

• The supermarkets & hypermarkets segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The India ready-to-cook food market is segmented by distribution channel into supermarkets and hypermarkets, convenience stores, online retail (e-commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer), and specialty stores. Among these, the supermarkets & hypermarkets segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The supermarkets & hypermarkets segment leads due to their wide product variety, bulk discounts, and easy accessibility in urban and semi-urban areas.

 

• The retort packaging segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The India ready-to-cook food market is segmented by packaging format into frozen/chilled packaging, vacuum-sealed packaging, canned packaging, retort packaging, and others. Among these, the retort packaging segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Retort and flexible packaging dominate due to their long shelf life, lightweight design, cost-effectiveness, and suitability for a wide range of RTC products.

 

• The Asian segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The India ready-to-cook food market is segmented by cuisine type into Asian, Western, Latin American, and Middle Eastern. Among these, the Asian segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Asian cuisine, particularly Japanese and Chinese, dominates India’s RTC market due to widespread consumer familiarity, affordable pricing, and versatile flavor profiles. Rising health consciousness supports Japanese options, while Chinese dishes grow quickly thanks to easy preparation, urban demand, and strong availability through both retail and online platforms.

 

• The residential (households) segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period.

The India ready-to-cook food market is segmented by end-user into residential (households) and food service operations. Among these, the residential (households) segment held a significant share in 2024 and is expected to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. The residential (household) segment dominates and grows rapidly because of busy urban lifestyles, rising disposable incomes, and the need for quick, convenient meal options. Increased online availability, attractive pricing, and diverse vegetarian and non-vegetarian options further drive adoption, especially among working professionals and nuclear families in metro and tier-2 cities.

 

Competitive Analysis:

The report offers the appropriate analysis of the key organizations/companies involved within the India Ready-to-Cook Food market along with a comparative evaluation primarily based on their product offering, business overviews, geographic presence, enterprise strategies, segment market share, and SWOT analysis. The report also provides an elaborative analysis focusing on the current news and developments of the companies, which includes product development, innovations, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers & acquisitions, strategic alliances, and others. This allows for the evaluation of the overall competition within the market.

 

List of Key Companies

• ITC Limited (Aashirvaad, ITC Master Chef)
• MTR Foods
• Haldiram’s (Minute Khana)
• Gits Food Products
• Kohinoor Foods
• Nestlé India (Maggi, RTC pasta)
• Adani Wilmar (Kohinoor Biryani Kit)
• ID Fresh Foods
• SuZu Agro (Aaj Pakao)
• DryM Foods
• Healthy & Smart Agro (HandS Brand)
• Maiyas Beverages and Foods
• Orkla India (Eastern Condiments, MTR parent company)
• ADF Foods Ltd.
• Tasty Bite Eatables Ltd.

 

Key Target Audience

• Market Players
• Investors
• End-users
• Government Authorities 
• Consulting and Research Firm
• Venture capitalists
• Value-Added Resellers (VARs)

 

Market Segment

This study forecasts revenue at Japan, regional, and country levels from 2020 to 2035. Spherical Insights has segmented the India Ready-to-Cook Food market based on the following segments:

 

India Ready-to-Cook Food Market, By Product Type

• Instant Noodles and Pasta
• Soups and Gravies
• Frozen and Chilled Meals (e.g., curries, biryanis)
• Ready-to-Mix (e.g., dosa/idli batter, dessert mixes)
• Snacks and Savory Items
• Others

 

India Ready-to-Cook Food Market, By Ingredient Type

• Vegetarian
• Non-Vegetarian

 

India Ready-to-Cook Food Market, By Distribution Channel

• Supermarkets and Hypermarkets
• Convenience Stores
• Online Retail (e-commerce platforms and direct-to-consumer)
• Specialty Stores

 

India Ready-to-Cook Food Market, By Packaging Format

• Frozen/Chilled Packaging
• Vacuum-Sealed Packaging
• Canned Packaging
• Retort Packaging
• Others

 

India Ready-to-Cook Food Market, By Cuisine Type

• Asian (Chinese, Indian, Japanese)
• Western (Italian, American)
• Latin American
• Middle Eastern

 

India Ready-to-Cook Food Market, By End-User

• Residential (households)
• Food Service Operations