Driving Innovation in Food & Beverage

An expanding retail network, higher disposable incomes and changing consumer preferences are driving growth in Food and Beverage (F&B) industry of India. As a country with a large and growing population, India has quickly developed into one of the largest and most attractive markets for F&B products, attracting domestic and international companies. Seafood export is one of the key growth drivers within this sector. India is among the world's largest exporters of seafood, especially shrimp, fish and other frozen products. Initiatives like Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) have helped industry in improving export standards as well as for widening the reach of markets worldwide. India's seafood exports, particularly to markets in the US, EU and the Middle East, are growing by the day as the demand for protein rich sustainable food sources increases globally.

Food and beverage packaging is another area of growth. Packaging innovation has taken the stage with increasing demand for convenience foods. With consumer demand and regulations from governments, the industry has begun to concentrate more on sustainable methods such as biodegradable, reusable and recyclable materials. Consumer demand for eco-friendly options coincides with a broader shift toward plant based and edible packaging alternatives, driving innovation for the sector. In addition, food and beverage industry consulting have quickly become a vital aspect of industry growth. With businesses growing more and more reliant on consultants to navigate the changing face of consumer trends, regulatory requirements and operational challenges. Finally, food and beverage contract manufacturing has become very popular. Outsourcing manufacturing to specialized companies has become a popular choice for many F&B brands that can cut costs, scale operations, and dedicate their energies to innovation and marketing.

In this special issue, we introduce you to the top companies from this segment. Industry Outlook has identified the select few companies that have done particularly well with a high level of dedication. We have found that they have gone the extra mile in proving their commitment to excellence in an integrated manner.

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