Most people on Earth now follow a vegan diet, which has swept the globe in recent years. The time is now for food firms, merchants, and food business operators (FBOs) to plot their entry into the plant-based food industry, thanks to this new shift. Pizza Hut, Cornetto, McDonald’s, Ben & Jerry’s, and many more fast food behemoths are developing vegan substitutes. The list of prominent figures investing in vegan enterprises is growing quickly, and Forbes has even included Leonardo Dicaprio, Bill Gates, Mike Tyson, Tommy Chiabra, Virat Kohli, Aamir Khan, and Kangana Ranaut among those who have done so. When it comes to vegetarian options, India is one of those countries around the world that provides a wide range of possibilities. The nation is ripe to become a vegan food market mecca due to its famed vegetarian and flexitarian dietary practices. An examination of the Nuffoods spectrum The future of India’s vegan food market is being predicted by the existing demand and trends in the sector.
A long way has veganism gone from being a strange concept to being associated with animal-rights activists to being a prevalent alternative lifestyle! The idea of eating only plant-based foods is gaining traction all around the world. In a country like India, where vegetarianism is the norm rather than the exception, this is especially true. According to a survey by Grand View Research, a market research and consultancy firm located in India and the US, the worldwide vegan food industry was worth USD 12.69 billion in 2018 and has been growing continuously from 2019 to 2025 at a CAGR of 9.6 percent. The primary element driving the growth of this market is the growing awareness of the benefits of following a vegan diet. A disproportionately big vegan population resides in the Americas, Europe, and Asia-Pacific.
Kinjal Darukhanawala, Founder of Wegan Foods
“There is certainly change in eating habit of people across the globe especially after the pandemic’s outbreak,” said Kinjal Darukhanawala, Founder of Wegan Foods, predicting the future of the vegan sector in India. “What they eat and how it may affect their immune system is a major worry for them. People in India are increasingly choosing vegan diets, which opens up a lot of new possibilities,” he added.
Transitioning from traditional dairy to plant-based milk
Milk provides the majority of the Indian population with all the nutrients they need. Milk provides essential nutrients including calcium and protein. There was a 6.5% rise in milk production compared to the previous year. Although drinking milk is often thought of as a healthy habit, there is a downside to it, as the old adage goes. Many individuals involved in the milk trade in India began using illegal tactics like adulteration and fake milk as a result of the skyrocketing demand for milk in the country. Greenhouse gas emissions from cow’s milk were nearly three times greater than those from plant-based alternatives, according to a study conducted this year by the University of Oxford. This finding has given many people cause to consider going vegan.
By using plant-based milks made from cereals, nuts, legumes, and other plants, we can avoid the problems associated with milk from animals. People who are concerned about their health and are seeking for ways to live that are more natural, healthy, compassionate, and nutrient dense are showing a growing interest in these alternative milk kinds. In the dairy industry, plant-based milks are brewing like a storm due to rising consumer awareness, expanding market share, and relentless innovation.
Sheena Jain, co-founder of Sain
“In Indian kitchen, it is very difficult to replace all dairy products with plants based alternatives because our palate has developed more falvour for dairy products than any other substitute,” said Sheena Jain, co-founder of Sain, when asked about the transition from dairy to plant-based milk. However, as more and more people learn about the advantages of plant-based goods, the model is shifting.
Additionally, plant-based milk is more healthful and hygienic for human consumption because there is nearly no adulteration in it. Following this line of thinking, we came up with the notion of giving individuals almond milk, which will strengthen their immune systems and improve their overall health’, she continued. Vegan company Sain, based in Delhi, sells dairy-free almond milk in a wide variety of tastes (cardamom, cacao, vanilla, and many more) for 145 to 160 rupees each bottle.
Soy milk, coconut milk, cashew milk, oat milk, and a host of other alternatives to milk are also available. For those who are unable to digest lactose, these products are an excellent alternative that still provides all the necessary nutrients.
Making the switch to veganism isn’t cheap
Although there may be some health benefits to going vegan, it’s important to remember that “All benefits come with a price tag.”. While going meatless may seem like a reasonable option at first, actually sticking to a plant-based diet over the long haul is no picnic.
Products like milk, paneer (cottage cheese), yoghurt, etc. are widely available across India, making it difficult to find plant-based alternatives. Two major problems with these plant-based alternatives to the original product: first, they are hard to come by and second, they cost a pretty penny.
Since most Indian families are on a limited budget, the idea of making a dietary change—which would involve additional money—does not appeal to the middle class, which makes up the bulk of the country’s population. Take, for example, the price of 1 litre of buffalo milk. If it were to be substituted with soy milk, the client would have to shell out nearly twice as much money, which is clearly not a good deal. The same holds true for milk’s byproducts such paneer, yoghurt, butter, cheese, etc.
India could easily become the vegan capital of the world if its citizens were more informed and alternatives were priced similarly. Being a nation with the widest variety of vegetarian meals, India is well positioned to experience this change. By doing so, the nation may lessen its share of greenhouse gas emissions while also improving the health of its citizens. An estimated 18% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from the livestock industry, according to the US Food and Agriculture Organization’s research. If the country can just find a way to bring the price of dairy products in line with those of plant-based alternatives, it will be well on its way to achieving its objective.
