India

Air care experienced positive retail volume and current value growth in India in 2023, driven by factors such as greater consumer awareness, increasing urbanisation, and improved distribution channels. The growing trend towards self-care and wellness…

In 2022, retail volume sales of air treatment products in India, especially cooling products such as air conditioners and air coolers, recorded double-digit growth, due to factors such as pent-up demand, harsh summer conditions and greater consumer…

Airlines in India is set to experience robust demand and growth in 2023, propelled by a surge in interest from tier-2 and non-metro cities. Certain tier-2 cities, such as Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Surat, Pune, and Indore, are expected to witness rises in…

India was one of the few significant international markets to have registered a full recovery in alcohol drink sales in volume terms in 2022. The country's relatively young population played a pivotal role in this regard, setting it apart from…

During COVID-19 lockdowns in India in 2020, the government deemed alcoholic drinks to be non-essential, meaning that production and sales via both the retail and foodservice channels came to a temporary halt in this year. The closure during lockdowns…

The driving force behind the growth of analgesics in India is the Millennial population, which includes those born between 1980 and 1994. This demographic, consisting of 328 million people, significantly drives demand for analgesics. The key reason…

After experiencing a rapid surge in growth during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trajectory of apparel accessories underwent a significant shift in 2022 and 2023. The demand for face masks, a pivotal component of the category…

India’s distinction as having one of the youngest populations globally provides a significant advantage, particularly when it comes to fashion. With a substantial proportion of the population belonging to younger age groups, the country boasts a…

Apparel and footwear specialists maintained double-digit current value growth in India in 2023, along with continued growth in outlet numbers. After significant disruption during the pandemic, the channel returned to the 2019 level of sales for the…

Appliances and electronics specialists maintained solid current value growth and growth in outlet numbers in India in 2023, despite the competition from online retailers of such products. This is mostly because store-based retailers have been…

Away-from-home (AFH) tissue and hygiene maintained a second year of double-digit current value growth in India in 2023. AFH hygiene, which consists only of AFH incontinence products, saw the strongest increase. With the growing prevalence of…

In 2022, the competitive landscape for baby and child-specific products intensified, largely due to external investment in domestic baby products companies. This influx of funds allowed domestic brands to boost their reach, and as a result parents…

Nestlé has an established leadership of baby food in India, as it is synonymous with trust and assurance of quality. Nestlé’s leading brand Cerelac has been at the forefront of development, with a greater focus on creating variants of dried baby food…

Folding cartons remained the most popular choice for packaging powder milk formula in 2023. However, powder milk formula packaged in metal tins remains a popular choice for brands such as Dexolac in India, as metal tins offer excellent protection…

Bags and luggage experienced significant current value growth in India in 2023, marking a remarkable rebound from the setbacks faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. The category was heavily impacted by lockdown restrictions and decreased travel…

Baked goods maintained solid retail volume growth and dynamic current value growth in India in 2023. Packaged leavened bread has become a popular go-to option, especially for urban consumers, due to Western influences such as increasing exposure to…

Volume growth in bath and shower is slowing down in India, due to the already high penetration of the dominant category, bar soap. Brands are focusing on ingredient-led launches to develop and expand their premium bar soap portfolios in a bid to…

At the start of 2022, India witnessed a third wave of COVID-19, but this was far less intense in terms of severity than prior waves of the pandemic, witnessed in 2021. In addition, the government rolled out vaccination for children aged 12-18 in…

Hair care packaging, which is the biggest category in beauty and personal care in unit volume terms, continued to record positive growth in 2022, driven by increased consumer awareness of hair care and a focus on personal grooming, which is helping…

Beer volumes surpassed pre-COVID-19 levels in 2022. This was partly attributable to India's historically low per capita consumption and the lower starting point created by the pandemic. Indeed, 2020 witnessed a significant decline in beer consumption…

On the back of a competitive pricing structure, the facility to cross-compare, and a seamless customer journey, travel bookings via online channels have gained further momentum, which is set to take the penetration of online travel bookings to 47% in…

The ongoing demand for bottled water in India can be attributed primarily to two factors: the scarcity of clean drinking water and rising health concerns. UNICEF reports that less than 50% of the Indian population has access to clean drinking water,…

Breakfast cereals maintained dynamic retail volume and current value growth in India in 2023, rising from a small base. Retail per capita consumption of breakfast cereals remains low in India due to limited consumption occasions. Players in breakfast…

Value sales of butter and spreads recorded double-digit growth in 2023, with demand rising steadily. Traditionally in India, butter and ghee has been prepared at home from milk as it is considered more budget-friendly. Butter and ghee are extensively…

Cafés/bars maintained exceptional current value growth in India in 2023, with solid growth also seen in outlet numbers. The strongest growth was seen by bars/pubs, partly because this channel was the hardest hot by the pandemic. In addition, in…

In 2024, Coca-Cola, the leading carbonates player in India, decided to transfer its company-owned bottling operations in three North Indian regions to existing independent bottlers. These regions include Rajasthan, Bihar, North-East India, and parts…

Traditionally, cats were not popular as pets in India, with a typically poor image, and unfavourable qualities associated with them. However, there has been a change in the perception of cats, along with the growing influence of digital media.…

Charge cards in India remained a niche category within financial cards and payments in 2023, largely due to higher eligibility criteria for issuance. Given the higher credit score and minimum salary requirement for a charge card in comparison to…

Retail demand for cheese in India continued to grow in 2023, as major players introduced new variants and expanded their ranges to cater for different consumption occasions. There is increasing demand for Western breakfasts among urban households,…

Childrenswear has been experiencing a notable surge in sales, fuelled by younger parents’ changing preferences and spending habits. With the rise of dual-income households, these parents possess more significant disposable incomes, enabling them to…

The per capita consumption of chocolate confectionery in India in 2023 is only 7% of consumption in the US and 10% of consumption in the UK. Generally, chocolate confectionery in India has limited mind space association, primarily focused on gifting,…

Cider/perry held only a negligible presence in India in 2021. Given the country’s hot climate and interest in sparkling drinks it would suggest there is a potential market for these products, although currently cider/perry is only being produced on a…

With mobility returning to pre-COVID levels, the frequency of consumption occasions has increased. This has led to the fastest volume growth in a decade, primarily driven by India's sizable population of working individuals. As of 2022, according to…

Manufacturers express deep dissatisfaction with the current taxation of cigars and cigarillos, which equates them to cigarettes. Manufacturers argue that these products are considered luxuries and are less addictive, with most consumers not inhaling…

India has a strong inclination towards tea consumption, with coffee trailing as a distant second in terms of volume. Historically, coffee has enjoyed popularity in southern India throughout the year. Consumers in the south have been historically more…

In 2022, the return of social gatherings, coupled with an increased focus on multifunctional products, allowed colour cosmetics in India to witness healthy growth, which ultimately drove the category beyond the pre-pandemic level of value sales.…

Following two years of strong retail volume growth at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, computers and peripherals slowed down in 2022. This trend continued in 2023, with portable computers witnessing negative retail volume growth. During the…

The demand for health-enhancing products is on a notable rise in India. Pioma Industries, a leading concentrates player with its brand Rasna, has acknowledged this trend and developed products tailored to meet general health and wellness preferences.…

Flexible plastic accounted for the highest share of packaging volumes in countlines in 2023, and gained share of overall packaging volumes in this category. The rising popularity of this pack type is due to its versatility, convenience, and…

After a year of healthy growth in 2022, the demand for consumer appliances in India notably slowed in 2023, hindered by inflationary pressures and a cost-of-living crisis. This was one of the key themes that plagued the industry during the year.…

In 2023, card lending - driven by increasing credit card adoption in India - remained the dominant category within consumer credit in gross lending terms. The adoption of credit cards further increased during the year, primarily as consumers’…

Consumer electronics witnessed solid retail volume and current value growth in 2023, although performances varied across different categories. While in-home and portable consumer electronics fared well due to robust growth in True Wireless Stereo…

In 2023, domestic tourism surged further in India, driven by spiritual experience and short-haul weekend trips, which led both travel and lodging consumer foodservice locations to witness strong consumer demand, seeing double-digit current value…

Inflationary pressure drove continued current value growth in consumer foodservice in India in 2023. However, a slowdown in growth was seen compared with the previous two years, as 2022 had already seen full recovery to the pre-pandemic level of…

Rising health awareness amongst consumers in India is set to lead to double-digit current value growth in consumer health in 2023. In the wake of the pandemic, people have undergone a transformative shift in their priorities, emphasising health and…

Consumer lending is growing at a healthy pace in India, driven by evolving lifestyle preferences where consumers strive for a higher standard of living and access to modern amenities. The country’s growing economy, rising disposable incomes, and…

Contact lenses in India has been experiencing robust growth, with a further double-digit current value increase expected to be observed in 2024. This expansion can be attributed to rising awareness amongst consumers regarding the usage and benefits…

Convenience retailers returned to current value growth in India in 2023. This is a relatively small channel with low penetration in the country, with outlets predominantly located in tier 1 and tier 2 cities. There are just a few major players in the…

In 2023, retail value sales of cooking ingredients and meals in India displayed high growth following the stabilisation of edible oils, the high value growth of ready meals, and a stable performance by mature categories such as sauce, dips and…

In 2023, cough, cold, and allergy (hay fever) remedies in India is set to experience moderate single-digit current value growth, driven predominantly by the demand for decongestants. Decongestants is expected to demonstrate above-average growth due…