Have your cake and eat it too!
Emerging economies of Asia-Pacific represent larger, untapped potential for organized development of bakery products, owing to the rising disposable incomes, urbanization, and the demand for a western-style diet.
The Indian bakery market stood at a value of nearly USD 10.1 billion in 2022. The market is further estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.6 percent between 2023 and 2028 to reach a value of USD 17.44 billion by 2028. The Indian bakery market is being supported by the thriving biscuits and cookies industry in the region according to the EMR report.
Bakery in India is a traditional activity, and bakery manufacturers in India can be differentiated into three broad segments bread, biscuits, and cakes. The growth in baked goods in the last few years is supported by the value growth in bread, whereas cakes and pastries have experienced comparatively lower sales growth. Muffins, puffs, and other savory products are also gaining popularity as younger populations often visit independent bakeries to relish snacks. Monginis offers a variety of packaged cakes in the market, like different flavors of cupcakes, dessert cakes, and many more. Increasing health awareness among consumers and demand for clean-labeled packaged food is driving the market.
The consumption of bakery items has increased over the last few years as consumers increasingly value their affordability and convenience. Packaged cake segment is growing in the Indian market as the working population is increasing in metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Banglore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and others. Growth in fast-food chains further stimulates the demand for bakery items. Increased online food stores have also increased the demand for packaged food, as fast delivery services and discounts on products are beneficial. The convenience offered by bakery products has boosted demand for such products.
Moreover, the introduction of value-added bakery products is giving an impetus to market growth. The local and global market players are providing more outlets all over India to strengthen their portfolio and increase consumer demand. For instance, in October 2022, Theobroma, Mumbai’s popular Patisserie, opened its first outlet in Chennai. Theobroma has 100 more outlets all over India.
According to the Mordor Intelligence Report, “The Indian cake market is projected to witness a CAGR of 12.5% during the next five years. Bakery products have been basic food products for human nutrition. The convenience, accessibility, and nutrition profile associated with them are the major factors of their sustenance in the modern market. The consumption of cakes is gaining market traction, owing to consumers’ changing perceptions and their convenience and health attributes. This is increasing the popularity of on-the-go cake products baked off or made at the consumer’s convenience. Due to urbanization and the increase in the working population, the preferences for out-of-home consumption and demand for instant and nutritious products have increased, which is expected to propel the market growth over the long term.”
The report further indicated that packaged cake is the fastest-growing category due to the development of vegan packaged cakes. India is a diverse country, with approximately 40 percent of its population being vegetarian. The introduction of vegan cakes is expected to contribute to market growth.
Frontier Biscuit Factory Pvt. Ltd is one of the popular companies in northern India, with a rich product portfolio in the vegan packaged cake market. Both online and offline sales channels make equal contributions to the market growth in India.
Rural and semi-urban populations dominate the major market in areas where convenience stores and supermarkets/hypermarkets gain high tractions. Online channels are gaining popularity in urban areas, especially in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities, due to the high market penetration of grocery delivery services like BigBasket and Amazon groceries.
Some online flower shops have also opened bakery stores and provide packaged cakes which are also driving the market. For instance, in March 2022, My Flowerapp.com, the leading online gift delivery platform in India, launched a new range of cakes.
Monginis, Britannia Industries Limited, Parle Products Pvt Ltd, Modern Food Enterprises Private Limited, and Elite foods are the major companies operating in India Cake Market.
The biscuits and cookies industry in India accounts for nearly 72 percent of the sales in the Indian bakery market. In comparison to other baked FMCG products, the penetration of cookies and biscuits is quite high in both the urban and rural areas owing to their affordable price and cholesterol-free nature. Currently, India is the world’s largest biscuit-consuming nation, which will be worth nearly USD 4.65 billion by FY 2020. The region enjoys a comparative advantage in manufacturing, with an abundant supply of primary ingredients, which supports the growth of the industry in the region.
East and North India are the regions with the highest consumption rate of biscuits and cookies in the country. Maharashtra and West Bengal, being the most industrially developed states, hold the highest rate of biscuit consumption. The top four players in the biscuits and cookies market are Parle Products, Britannia, ITC, and Surya Food and Agros, where Britannia and Parle together account for 61% of the total market share.
The rising penetration of bakery chains and the launch of healthy products in the bakery segment is likely to be key trend guiding the growth of the industry.