The food processing industry is of enormous significance as it provides vital linkages and synergies that it promotes between the two pillars of the economy, i.e. agriculture and industry. The industry offers huge opportunities for investments with stimulating growth in the food retail sector, favourable economic policies and attractive fiscal incentives. The processed food market is expected to grow to $ 543 bn by 2020 from $ 322 bn in 2016, at a CAGR of 14.6 percent. It is estimated that by 2024, the industry will potentially attract $ 33 bn investments and generate employment for 9 mn people.

Chemical free, herbal and unprocessed or minimally altered are the brand new buzzwords among the health conscious new age client and as such could be the guide for food processing technology inside the years yet to come. Tapping the right opportunity, many start-ups have ventured into the food processing sector and offering healthy, value added, value for money, safe and hygienic products. Many start-ups are reworking even their high-quality sellers to house the Indian palate and focusing on nutritive values and health. There has been a proliferation of start-ups adopting age-old technologies in a new commercialized format in segments like dehydrated snacks, as well as the development of newer technologies for catering to the aspirations of consumers for newer varieties and tastes of food.

In In our current edition, we have featured a list of "10 Best Food Processing Startups". The list consists of start-ups that have come up with interesting brands and positioning strategies and are trying to revive the old traditions of India in a new format, packaging and taste that the younger generation appreciates. We also recommend you to read our cover story on Swadhika Foods, a leading supplier and exporter of Premium Quality Frozen IQF fruits & Vegetables and frozen ready to eat/cook foods.

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