By Martin Shwenk Leade
Copyright indiatimes
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Despite FMCG companies’ claims of reducing sugar in their products, Indians are gorging on sugar-based products. As per a latest study by Indian Sugar and Bioenergy Manufacturers Association (ISMA), the institutional sugar consumption comprising non-alcoholic beverages, confectionery, bakery, biscuits, dairy, cream and other processed foods has increased by 10% in the last five years from 50-55% of the total sugar consumption in 2018-19 to 60-65% in 2023-24.The study took inputs from Nestle, Britannia, Mondelez, Parle, Coca-Cola, Amul and others. The report said sugar-rich processed food consumption by mid-income consumers in urban India and rural consumers has gone up as these are perceived as aspirational by rural youth.Institutional sugar consumption exhibits divergent trends as affluent India pivots to low-sugar foods while rising incomes in lower segments trigger growth in sugar-rich packaged consumption.”Institutional consumption now dominates India’s sugar demand, comprising 60-65% in 2023-24; up from 50-55% in 2028-19, with retail consumption accounting for 35-40%,” said ISMA in the report. Within institutional consumption, non-alcoholic beverages (35-40%) and confectionery (15-18%) are largest segments, followed by bakery and biscuits, dairy and ice cream, hotels, restaurants, cafeteria, pharma/nutraceuticals, and other processed foods. Retail sugar consumption in India is bifurcating across income segments.The rich 30 million households show moderate decline in refined sugar but growth in traditional sweeteners and other sweeteners. However, the 205 million lower income households have low branded sugar use but show signs of growth amidst sustained cultural preference for gur/khandsari. The 70 million mid income households maintain high refined sugar use in daily consumption, stable gur/khandsari usage, and slow uptake of other sweeteners, with expected gradual growth in branded sugar and shifting consumer preferences by 2030.Live EventsInstitutional consumption by affluent Indians shows health-conscious trends with reduced processed sugar intake and rising demand for low-sugar functional foods by 2030. Mid-income families drive high sugar-rich processed food consumption growth. Add as a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now!
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