India Baby Food Market Research Report: Forecast (2024-2030)

Market Insights & Analysis: India Baby Food Market (2024-30)

The India Baby Food Market size was valued at around USD 6.5 billion in 2023 and is estimated to grow at a CAGR of about 14% during the forecast period, i.e., 2024-30.The primitive factors attributing to the growth of this food in India are increasing urbanization, rising medical complications, and the changing lifestyles of women. This food is referred to as soft & easy-to-consume food products manufactured for infants & toddlers. These products are commonly available in milk formula, prepared & dried baby food variants, and are produced using mashed vegetables, fruits, and cereals. It acts as a source of various nutrients, such as vitamins & carbohydrates for toddlers.

The self-employment rate of women in India has been surging, and the women workforce comprising working women is also rising significantly for the past few years. Owing to the long working office hours, working mothers are gradually adopting & preferring this food rather than conventional breastfeeding to fulfill the nutritional needs of the babies, thereby driving the market in India. The medical complications during the pregnancy & the postpartum complications also restrain the mothers to feed the infants & hence, they opt for infant milk formula. As a result, the rising prevalence of complexities during pregnancies is further amplifying the demand for this food, further enhancing the India Baby Food Market size.

Moreover, as per the policies & regulations laid by the government of India, the maternal leaves in India are up to 26 weeks, as a result, the mothers are obliged to rejoin the office. Owing to this, they are inclined towards this food to fill the appetite of the infants in their absence, thereby boosting the sales of the products such as Infant Formula, Powdered Milk, etc. Additionally, the unavailability of lactation consultants in the public health care systems to teach women how to nurse their babies is also one of the reasons for the boost in the sales of this food in India. Besides, due to the high prevalence of digestive problems among toddlers, parents are opting for these products that can improve infants' digestive health while providing essential nutrients.

Furthermore, the requirement for this food is primarily driven by India's urban population, thus, as the urban population grows, so do sales of baby food. According to a United Nations report published in 2022, the country's urban population is growing and is expected to exceed 675 million by 2035. This, in turn, would lead to greater demand for this food in the coming years as the urban population relies more on this food to provide the proper nutrients to toddlers.

India Baby Food Market Key Driver:

Changing Lifestyles & Eating Habits Leading to Various Medical Complications in Women - The increasing urbanization in India has led to a change in the lifestyle patterns of individuals, especially women in India. The changing lifestyle such as long working hours & eating habits like consumption of alcohol, caffeine, red meat, unpasteurized milk, and other fast food products have resulted in acute medical conditions in women. These medical conditions include Preeclampsia, Preterm Labor, etc., which causes postpartum complications and to overcome these complications the women are kept on heavy medications. The consumption of medicines by the lactating mother poses a great risk to the newborn babies, hence the mothers prefer the infant formula & the baby formula.

Additionally, according to the India Skills report 2022, the rate of employable women is steadily expanding and is recorded to be over 51.44% in 2022.  Therefore, the rising working women population is likely to increase the reliability of women on this nutriment in the coming years, as it acts as a complete solution for the development of toddlers.

India Baby Food Market Possible Restraint:

Low Shelf Life & High Prices to Restraint the Sales - The shelf life of baby food varies for different products as pureed food has a shelf life of over 48-72 hours, and commercial food jars have a shelf life of 1-3 days after they are opened. This acts as a major hindrance in the sales of this nutriment since the low shelf life results in more wastage of resources.

In addition to this, the prices of this food are comparatively higher, which acts as a barrier in India since consumers are highly price sensitive. The population of India has been comprised of low-income & middle-class populations, which are cost conscious and hence purchase the products that are available at a low price & are more durable.

However, the average price of a commercial food jar is over USD10, and in a month around 10 jars are utilized, which sums up the average cost of the commercial jar to be over USD100 in a month. Therefore, consumers prefer homemade food considering it is more economically viable, hindering the sales of baby food.   

India Baby Food Market Key Trend:

Increasing Adoption of Premium-quality Organic Products  - The immune systems of toddlers & infants are not developed enough to fight off infections and hence they are more prone to foodborne illness, which has been a major setback for parents to opt for baby food.  This has resulted in growing awareness among parents regarding the harmful effects of chemicals & preservatives. Thereby, becoming more inclined to purchase organic products since they are free of pesticides & other harmful products. Owing to this, the companies such as Tiny Spoons, Ormeal, Happa, etc., are preparing baby food with utmost care & natural ingredients & launching an organic product range of baby food.

This has helped the companies to enhance their consumer base since apprehension among parents related to the general well-being of infants has been eradicated. Hence, organic food products have gathered much attention in recent years.

India Baby Food Market Growth Opportunity:

Made in India Plans by the Government Escalates the Expansion of Local Indian Brands - India has been a country with diverse cultures and has been a hotspot for global brands manufacturing baby food. However, to mitigate the dependence on global & international brands, the government of India is encouraging local companies to grow by providing them with subsidies. Even though the initiative Made in India, was launched in the historical years, it came to light in recent years, owing to which the awareness among the consumers to choose the products made in India is rapidly increasing. These government-led policies are propelling end-users to switch to Indian brands rather than the existing global players, therefore the market for local or made-in-India brands is expected to surge in the forthcoming years.   

India Baby Food Market (2024-30): Segmentation Analysis

India Baby Food Market study of MarkNtel Advisors evaluates & highlights the major trends and influencing factors in each segment. It includes predictions for the period 2024–2030 at the national level. According to the analysis, the market has been further classified as:

Based on Product Type:

• Processed Baby Food
• Milk Formula
• Dried Baby Food
• Other Baby Food

Among them, the Milk Formula acquired a significant share in the historical year and is estimated to gain a notable share in the coming years. The inclination of the urban population toward the growing-up milk formula to help in the overall development of the toddler is the prime reason for the growth in the sales of the milk formula. Further, medical complications such as the rising lactation issues among women, and others are also driving the sales of baby milk formula in India.

Moreover, several researches & studies across the globe have claimed that baby products are safe & essential for the development of the child. Therefore, parents are slowly using these products to feed their children. Hence, the growth of the milk formula is anticipated to grow further in the forecast period.  

Based on Distribution Channel:

• Retail Offline
  • Grocery Retailers
  • Non-grocery Retailers
  • Vending
  • Direct Selling
• Retail E-commerce

Among them, Retail Offline acquired a significant share in the historical period owing to the apprehensions among consumers regarding the quality of the products. Parents prefer to check the product thoroughly before purchasing it for their children, therefore, they tend to buy baby food & baby-related product from offline convenience stores. These offline stores offer them to choose from a wide range of products from various local & global brands, as well as offer high discounts owing to brand promotion, therefore, the sales of baby products specifically food have been via an offline channel in the historical period.

However, the rising internet penetration in India & the adoption of digitalization by the manufacturing companies would amplify sales through the online channel. The quick delivery services offered by pharmacies & convenience stores such as Blinkit, Apollo Pharmacy, etc., provide consumers the flexibility to shop from home, therefore the working population is relying on the quick e-commerce platform to purchase baby food. Hence, the sales of this food via e-commerce platform is anticipated to grow further in the forthcoming years.

India Baby Food Market Regulatory Landscape

According to the regulations laid by the Government of India, Foods for infant nutrition shall be packed in hermetically sealed, clean, and sound containers or flexible packs made from paper, polymer, and/or metallic film as per the Food Safety and Standards (Packaging) Regulations, 2018, to protect the contents from deterioration. The food shall be packed in an inert atmosphere, and the packaging material used for products covered under these regulations shall be free from Bisphenol A (BPA). These regulations have led the companies to adopt more safe & toxin-free packaging, thereby assuring the majority of parents about their non-hazardous claim. As a result, the companies adhering to these regulations have increased consumer penetration since consumers are now satisfied with the safe packaging claims.  

Gain a Competitive Edge with Our India Baby Food Market Report

1. India Baby Food Market Report by MarkNtel Advisors provides a detailed & thorough analysis of market size & share, growth rate, competitive landscape, and key players. This comprehensive analysis helps businesses gain a holistic understanding of the market dynamics & make informed decisions.

2. This report also highlights current market trends & future projections, allowing businesses to identify emerging opportunities & potential challenges. By understanding market forecasts, companies can align their strategies & stay ahead of the competition.

3. India Baby Food Market Report aids in assessing & mitigating risks associated with entering or operating in the market. By understanding market dynamics, regulatory frameworks, and potential challenges, businesses can develop strategies to minimize risks & optimize their operations.