India Baby Food Market Grows with Rising Health Focus and Urban Demand

India Baby Food Market Size, Share and Growth Forecast

The India baby food market size reached at USD 1.11 billion in 2024 and is anticipated to increase from USD 1.21 billion in 2025 to an estimated USD 2.62 billion by 2034, witnessing a CAGR of 8.95% during the forecast period from 2025 to 2034. The professional and development standards for baby foods in India enhance trust, transparency, and accountability in baby food businesses.

Key Highlights

• By category, the organic segment dominated the India baby foods market share in 2024, due to the enhanced trust of consumers over organic farming methods. 
• By category, the conventional segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the modernization in agriculture and technology. 
• By product type, the milk formula segment dominated the market share in 2024, driven by the increased need for baby feeding formulas for working women, busy parents, and medically challenged individuals. 
• By product type, the ready to eat baby food segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the increased convenience of accessing a variety of nutritious baby food products.
• By distribution channel, the supermarkets/hypermarkets segment dominated the market share in 2024, due to the popularity of these purchasing platforms among Indian consumers. 
• By distribution channel, the online retail stores segment is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period, driven by the increased convenience of online purchasing platforms for potential buyers.

Industry Coverage

Market Overview

What is the Significance of Healthy Food for Babies? 

The India baby foods market is driven by the positive impact of breastfeeding, baby formula, and other baby food solutions on maternal and infant health. The strengthening of the healthcare ecosystem is supported by the production, marketing, selling, and adoption of baby food products by health-conscious parents. Parents and caregivers are empowered to make informed decisions for their babies by supporting a regulatory environment. Parents are becoming more aware of healthy food options as the principal form of nutrition for their babies. 

The Baby Formula Marketing Strategies of Danone SA

(Source: Danone Baby Formula)

India Baby Food Market Trends

How does Good Governance Drive the Baby Foods Market in India? 

• Strict Provisions of Governments for Baby Foods: The Department of Consumer Affairs follows the guidelines provided by the Consumer Protection Act to check samples of infant food from Nestle. The other entities involved in this action are the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW). The cerelac baby cereals of Nestle contain added sugar for which Nestle experienced top sales of $250 million in 2022. However, Nestle reported that it has reduced the added sugars by almost 30% in infant cereals over the past five years. A leading company like Nestle is committed to innovating and reformulating its products. It focuses on reducing the content of added sugars in infant cereals by maintaining the quality, taste, and safety of products.
• Baby Food Marketing Standards by the Leading Companies: The major market players like Danone SA set marketing standards for baby food which will be fully implemented by 2025 and are approved by the Danone Executive Committee. They are applicable to all the employees of Danone and its partners involved in the product marketing, selling, governance, and education of infant formula for younger and older infants. They are based on three principal factors which believe that breastfeeding is the sole source of nutrition for babies. The company follows responsible engagement with healthcare professionals, and supports donations. The three fundamentals of these standards are positive health impact, parent empowerment, and responsible actions. 

Market Opportunity

How the FSSAI Enhances the Food Testing Ecosystem with Technical and Financial Support? 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) is dedicated to ensuring the availability of safe food products for people from across the globe. It conducts regular surveillance, inspection, monitoring, and random sampling of food products to achieve compliance with the quality and safety parameters. In December 2024, the FSSAI reported the launch of special festive drives to fight against challenges associated with adulteration in sweets, milk, and other food products in the season of holidays. It also conducts improved quality monitoring of food products for infants and the entire public. 

Market Challenges

What are the Legal Concerns associated with Infant Food Safety in India?

The major concerns in India are associated with food contamination, food adulteration, insufficient labeling of food products, and misleading claims. The products need to undergo strict quality control testing to avoid the presence of harmful chemicals, pesticides, excessive sugar, pathogens, or heavy metals during production stages. This will reduce the risk of developing serious health conditions for infants. The misleading claims about the nutritional content and health benefits of food products can create complications in parental decision-making. The gaps in the regulatory framework and enforcement for infant food safety in India can also impose potential challenges in front of the infant food industry or the India baby foods market. 

Country Insights

How did India Put Child Nutrition at the Forefront of Social Change?

India is committed to the health of infants and children through the implementation of the Infant Milk Substitutes (IMS) Act. The IMS Act focuses on the regulation of the production, supply, and distribution of feeding bottles and infant foods. The Hon'ble Prime Minister of India launched one of the schemes known as the ‘Poshan Abhiyaan’ to focus on the nutritional status of pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children from 0 to 6 years of age. This program aims to prevent and reduce stunting growth in children aged 0–6 years. It also focuses on preventing and reducing under-nutrition in children aged 0–6 years. The other main objectives of this program are to reduce the incidence of anemia among young children aged 6–59 months, reduce the cases of anemia among women and adolescent girls aged 15–49 years, and reduce low birth weight. It is predicted that India may raise the bar for baby foods to European standards.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) and the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Government of India, set the vision for public health and nutrition, including women and child health. The DBT is dedicated to developing technological and clinically-proven solutions to resolve challenges associated with public health nutrition such as malnutrition, stunting, anemia, etc.

• In October 2024, India participated in the 44th session of the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU) organized in Germany, India, which has provided valuable knowledge about nutrition for people aged 6 to 36 months. It has also supported with a framework of probiotic guidelines for foods and food supplements. (Source: Ministry of Health & Fanmily Welfare)

Major Achievements of the Department of Biotechnology through Supportive Programmes for Public Health Nutrition and Women and Child Health

• Pediatric Renal Biology Research Program on Nephrotic Syndrome
• Healthy Life Trajectories Initiative
• Fetal Programming Research
• Placental Biology
• Reproductive Biology
• Sepsis related mortality in neonates in India
• Challenges associated with Women health
• Developmental disorders and diseases of infants and early childhood populations (Source: Department Of Biotechnology)

Segmental Insights

Category Insights 

How Organic Segment Dominated the India Baby Foods Market in 2024? 

The organic segment dominated the India baby foods market in 2024. Organic baby food is in high demand to nourish the future of babies because it is grown without the use of pesticides, genetically modified organisms, chemicals, artificial fertilizers, and radiation. Organic farming methods allow water conservation, pollution reduction, and improved quality of soil and water, due to which organic food is planet-friendly in nature. Consumers choose organic baby food to avoid toxins and harmful chemicals by adopting nutrient-rich and vitamin-packed food for babies. These foods cause lower risks of allergies, offer stronger immunity, prevent obesity, and support long-term health. These foods are available in varieties with a better taste for consumers. 

The Conventional Segment is Expected to Grow at the Fastest CAGR in the India Baby Foods Market During the Forecast Period. 

The modernized methods of agriculture involve conventional baby food production, which uses pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, and herbicides. The conventional methods are also associated with the production of baby food packaging materials and transportation of ingredients. 

Product Type Insights 

What Made Milk Formula the Dominant Segment in the India Baby Foods Market in 2024? 

The milk formula segment dominated the India baby foods market in 2024. The milk formula or baby formula feeding presents several benefits, such as convenience, flexibility, time, frequency of feeding, and diet. The milk formula feeds are enriched with proteins, sugars, fats, and vitamins that provide a good nutritional alternative. The baby formula feeding is helpful for babies whose mothers are taking medications and dealing with certain health conditions. 

The Ready-to-Eat Baby Food Segment is Expected to Grow at the Fastest CAGR in the Market During the Predicted Timeframe. 

The ready-to-eat baby food is enriched with grains, lean proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, which make it healthy and nutritious. The availability of various types of ready-to-eat food, such as infant cereals, purées, and snacks for infants, provides them with a good source of iron and nutrients. The benefits of these foods are timesaving, convenience, nutrition, and improved mental health. 

Distribution Channel Insights 

How did the Supermarkets/Hypermarkets Segment Dominate the India Baby Foods Market in 2024? 

The supermarkets/hypermarkets segment dominated the India baby foods market in 2024. The unique features of hypermarkets such as good accessibility, long operating hours, parking space, increased checkout points, and bulk storage offer good customer service. The benefits include convenience, an extensive product range, lower prices, self-service shopping, promotions, and offers. Parents can buy food products for their babies at a one-stop-shop and of diverse varieties by accessing supermarkets nearby to them.

The Online Retail Stores Segment is Expected to Grow at the Fastest CAGR in the Market During the Forecast Period. 

The online retail shops offer better prices, fewer crowds, and time for consumers. They also offer flexible payment options and customers can purchase products from home. Online retailers can reach up to a global customer base by selling products over the internet without the need for a vast network of physical stores. 

Recent Developments in the India Baby Food Market

Nestle SA

• Launch: In October 2024, Nestle SA announced the launch of new variants of infant food cerelac with no refined sugar. (Source: IndiaRetailing)

Danone India

• Launch: In January 2024, Danone India announced the launch of its new product named AptaGrow to redefine and strengthen the toddler nutrition strategy. AptaGrow is enriched with 100% milk protein, calcium, prebiotics, vitamin A, C, D, iron, folic acid, and iodine that support height gain, immune health, and brain development. (Source: Danone)

India Baby Food Market Leading Companies

• Nestle SA
• Abbott
• Danone SA
• Gerber
• Happafoods
• Heinz
• HiPP
• Evexia Nutritions Private Limited
• Little Fingers
• Mead Johnson Nutrition Co
• PediaSure
• Timios

Segments Covered in the Report

By Category

• Organic
• Conventional

By Product Type

• Milk Formula
• Dried Baby Food
• Ready to Eat Baby Food
• Other Product Types

By Distribution Channel

• Supermarkets/Hypermarkets
• Convenience/Grocery Stores
• Pharmacies/Drug Stores
• Online Retail Stores
• Other Distribution Channels