India Frozen Convenience Food Market Booms as Quick Meals Become a Daily Essential

India Frozen Convenience Food Market Size Forecast 2034

The India frozen convenience food market size is set to witness robust growth from 2025 to 2034, fueled by changing eating habits, growing demand for quick meal solutions, and increasing adoption of frozen foods among urban households seeking both convenience and taste. The increasing demand for frozen food in India drives the growth of the market. 

Key Highlights

• By region, West India dominated the market by holding a market share in 2024, due to the increasing consumer changing lifestyles. 
• By region, East & North-East India is expected to grow at a notable CAGR from 2025 to 2034 during the forecast period, which is driven by increasing demand for frozen food.
• By product, the frozen snacks segment held a major India frozen convenience food market share in 2024, driven by increasing demand for frozen foods.
• By product, the frozen bakery products segment is projected to grow at a CAGR between 2025 and 2034, driven by the increasing demand for bakery items. 
• By cuisine type, the Indian cuisine segment dominated the market share in 2024, due to the increasing demand for traditional foods in India. 
• By cuisine type, the Asia/oriental cuisine segment is expected to grow rapidly, due to the increasing busy and modern lifestyles. 
• By category, the vegetarian segment dominated the market share in 2024, due to the increasing demand for plant-based food products. 
• By category, the non-vegetarian segment is expected to grow rapidly, due to the increasing demand for meat consumption. 
• By packaging, the flexible pouches segment dominated market share in 2024, due to the increasing demand for plant-based food products. 
• By packaging, the eco-friendly/biodegradable packs segment is expected to grow rapidly due to the increasing consumer preference towards sustainability. 
• By end-user, the households segment contributed the biggest market share in 2024, due to the increasing consumer preference towards home cooking. 
• By end user insights, the institutional buyers segment is expanding at a significant CAGR between 2025 and 2034, due to the increasing demand for hotels and restaurants.
• By distribution channel, the modern retail (supermarkets and hypermarkets) segment dominated the market share in 2024, driven by the increasing number of offline stores.
• By distribution channel, the online grocery platforms segment is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period, driven by the increasing consumer trend towards online shopping.

The Increasing Demand for Frozen Convenience Food Revolutionize the Market Share in India

The India frozen convenience food market includes all food products that are pre-cooked, semi-cooked, or ready-to-eat, stored at low temperatures (frozen), and sold through retail, HoReCa, and online channels for quick and easy consumption. These products are typically packaged in a way that preserves flavor, texture, and nutritional value, and are aimed at meeting the needs of urban consumers, working professionals, nuclear families, and growing middle-class lifestyles. It includes both traditional Indian cuisine and fast food options, offered in vegetarian, non-vegetarian, and plant-based varieties. 

There are various significant factors driving the market growth, such as increasing consumer busy and modern lifestyles, and increasing demand for easy-to-cook and ready-to-eat foods are expected to drive the market growth in India. In addition, increasing demand for frozen food such as frozen vegetables, frozen snacks, and ready-to-cook meals is becoming a household staple, which may accelerate the demand for market.

India Frozen Convenience Food Market Trends

• Increasing Longer Shelf Life: The frozen foods are preserved via freezing, which makes them a valuable option for customers and increases their shelf life, which contributes to propelling market growth.
• Increasing Freshness and Quality: Frozen convenience foods provide consumers with high-quality foods and retain their nutritional value and flavor, which is expected to drive the growth of the India frozen convenience food market. 
• Increasing demand for ready-to-cook foods: The increasing demand for ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food products, such as dairy products, seafood, and meat products, and fruit and vegetables, is further expected to drive the market growth in India.

Market Opportunity 

Rising Advanced Freezing Technologies

The rising technological advancements are revolutionizing market growth. Advanced techniques such as vacuum sealing, cryogenic freezing, and quick frozen (IQF) maintain nutritional value, taste, and texture. In addition, the production processes are becoming more convenient and efficient in frozen food due to the integration of smart packaging, robotic automation, and AI-powered quality control, which may create significant growth opportunities in India. In addition, rising data-driven innovation and personalization are also transforming the frozen category, as technology becomes more integrated into consumer life, which is further expected to revolutionize the growth of the India frozen convenience food market in the coming years.

Market Challenge

Supply Chain Issues

The increasing supply chain issues in frozen convenience food may create major challenges in the market. From production to the retail shelf, maintaining the integrity of the cold chain is critical. Any break in the supply chain can lead to food safety issues, product recalls, and spoilage. This can be crucial for supermarkets and grocery stores, which may create challenges in consumer satisfaction. In addition, display and storage costs, regulatory compliance, and environmental impact are other restraining factors hindering the growth of the Indian frozen convenience food market.

Country Level Analysis

How West India Dominates India Frozen Convenience Food Market Revenue in 2024?

West India dominated the market in 2024. The market growth in the country is attributed to the increasing modern lifestyles and younger population, growing urbanization, growing e-commerce platforms, increasing health awareness, and increasing demand for foodservice, such as cloud kitchens and QSRs. In addition, the frozen convenience food are becoming more popular in the west India, due to their convenience, low cost, and taste. Without putting in much effort, West India is accepting this concept, as these snacks are enjoyed by all age groups, which further drives the market demand in India.

The East & North-East India is expected to grow fastest during the forecast period.

The India frozen convenience food market in east and north-east India is driven by the increasing demand in urban and semi-urban areas, increasing disposable incomes, increasing presence of a strong agricultural base, and increasing consumer preference towards ready meals and frozen snacks. Dishes such as fish curries, pav bhaji, and dhokla are popular Indian cuisines in India, which may accelerate the market demand in India.

Segmental Insights

Product Insights

How Frozen Snacks Dominates India Frozen Convenience Food Market Revenue in 2024?

The frozen snacks segment dominated the India frozen convenience food market in 2024. The segment growth in the market is attributed to the increasing busy and modern lifestyles, increasing demand for frozen snacks such as kebabs, cutlets, spring rolls, and samosas, growing urbanization, and increasing consumer preference towards plant-based and natural snacks in India. The frozen convenience food provides customers with a huge variety of frozen treats in India. In recent years, the frozen food industry is revolutionizing rapid growth in India. For instance, frozen ready-to-cook foods are sizable Rs 3,500 crores with a 15% growth every year.

• In May 2025, HyFun Foods, a Gujarat-based company, launched a ready-to-cook frozen snack portfolio, Mumbai Aloo Vada. The aim behind this launch was to address the increased demand for wide frozen offerings among urban consumers across India. (Source: ET Retail.Com)

Cuisine Insights

Why the Indian Cuisine Segment Held the Largest India Frozen Convenience Food Market Revenue in 2024?

The Indian cuisine segment dominated the market in 2024. The segment growth in the Indian market is driven by various benefits such as boosting immunity, vegetarian-friendly cuisine, promoting heart health, supporting weight management, providing strength and energy, being good for digestion, and being rich in nutrients. India is the largest country in the various types of cuisines. 75% of production of Indian egg consumed by the 25% of the population living in semi-urban and urban areas, there are various consumer preferences towards Indian cuisine. With 80% of the tea produced consumed domestically, India is the largest tea consumer, which further drives the segment growth.

Category Insights

How the Vegetarian Segment Dominates the India Frozen Convenience Food Market Revenue in 2024?

The vegetarian segment dominated the market in 2024. The segment growth in the market is attributed to factors such as the increasing growth in foodservice, the growing middle-class population, rapid urbanization, rising innovation in vegetarian frozen products, increasing consumer trend towards vegan and flexitarian diets, increasing health awareness, and increasing dietary preferences. To support the body and environment, everyone in India is shifting vegetarian diet. With 38% of its total population, India claims the top spot.

Packaging Insights

What Factors Help Flexible Pouches Segment Grow in 2024?

The flexible pouches segment dominated the India frozen convenience food market in 2024. The segment growth in the market is propelled by the increasing growth in e-commerce platforms, increasing demand for single-serve and on-the-go packaging, increasing consumer preference towards lightweight packaging and sustainability, the growing food and beverage industry, and rising technological advancements in packaging solutions. Indian companies made complete 100% paper material and provide a biodegradable and eco-friendly option for storage and packaging.

Distribution Channel Insights

How Modern Retail Segment Dominates India Frozen Convenience Food Market Revenue in 2024?

The modern retail (supermarkets/hypermarkets) segment dominated the market in 2024. The segment growth in the Indian market is driven by factors such as increasing consumer desire to shop physically without waiting for delivery, increasing product discoverability, greater understanding of buyer behavior, improved operational efficiency, and increasing consumer preference towards offline stores.

• In February 2025, a leading player in the ready-to-cook, chilled, and frozen foods space, the acquisition of Prasuma by ITC Ltd in India. Over 3 years, ITC will acquire a 100% stake in Prasuma. (Source: AngelOne)

End-User Insights

Why Households Segment Held the Largest India Frozen Convenience Food Market Revenue in 2024?

The households segment dominated the India frozen convenience food market in 2024. The segment growth in the market is attributed to the increasing consumer preference towards home cooking, rising expansion in online and retail grocery stores, growing middle-class population, and increasing consumer awareness towards health and well-being. In addition, to reduce the food waste in households, home freezing of fresh foods has been advocated as an approach, which further expected to accelerate the demand for frozen convenience food in India.

Recent Developments in the India Frozen Convenience Food Market

Conagra Brands, Inc.

• Launch: In June 2025, one of North America's leading branded food companies, Conagra Brands, Inc., launched 50 new frozen foods, including plant-based and gluten-free meals, vegetable side dishes, and multi-serve and single-serve meals. The aim behind this launch was to elevate flavor and convenience for consumers. (Source: PR Newswire)

Nestle

• Launch: In January 2025, under the Vital Pursuit brand, its new Max Pro line, Nestle launched frozen pizzas that featured a significant protein content, such as 33g of protein and 17g of fiber per serving. The aim behind this launch was to increase focus on health-conscious consumers. (Source: FoodBev Media)

Home Bargains

• Launch: In April 2025, with renowned chef Tom Kitchin, an exclusive new range of frozen meals was launched by Home Bargains. This frozen meal is designed for easy preparation and crafted with premium ingredients. (Source: GG-Grocery Gazette)

India Frozen Convenience Food Market Leading Companies

• ITC Ltd. (ITC Master Chef)
• Godrej Tyson Foods (Yummiez)
• McCain Foods India
• Venky’s (Venkateshwara Hatcheries)
• Haldiram’s Frozen Foods
• Amul (GCMMF)
• MTR Foods
• Sumeru (Innovative Foods Ltd.)
• Kohinoor Foods
• Al Kabeer Exports Pvt. Ltd.
• Nestlé India (Maggi Frozen)
• Prasuma (known for momos)
• Meatzza
• Real Good Chicken
• Big Sams (Seafood)
• Maven Foods
• Keventer Agro
• Sapphire Foods (Pizza Hut/KFC frozen supply)
• Mother Dairy (Safal Frozen Vegetables)
• Vezlay Foods (Plant-based frozen options)

Segments Covered in the Report

By Product Type

• Frozen Snacks 
• Samosas, Spring Rolls, Cutlets, Kebabs
• Frozen Ready Meals
• Biryani, Pav Bhaji, Dal Makhani, Pasta, Noodles
• Frozen Meat & Seafood
• Chicken Nuggets, Fish Fillets, Seekh Kebabs
• Frozen Vegetables & Mixes
• Peas, Corn, Veg Mix
• Frozen Bakery Products 
• Pizza bases, Parathas, Garlic Bread

By Cuisine Type

• Indian Cuisine 
• Western Cuisine
• Asian/Oriental Cuisine 

By Category

• Vegetarian 
• Non-Vegetarian 

By Packaging Type

• Flexible Pouches 
• Boxes & Trays (microwaveable)
• Vacuum-Sealed Packs
• Eco-friendly/Biodegradable Packs 

By Distribution Channel

• Modern Retail (Supermarkets/Hypermarkets) 
• Online Grocery Platforms 
• Convenience Stores
• HoReCa (Hotels, Restaurants, Cafeterias)

By End-User

• Households 
• Foodservice/HoReCa
• Institutional Buyers (schools, airlines, hospitals)