F&B Players Are Innovating to Meet the New Age Consumer’s Preferences For Premium Products: Mithun Appaiah

Sumeru is among India’s leading and only brand focused in frozen foods category.

In Conversation with Franchise India - Mithun Appaiah, CEO Innovative Foods Ltd, Sumeru Frozen Foods, talks about trends and challenges in the frozen food industry. Read on to know more...

How the F&B industry is getting transformed in modern time?

The F&B industry is seeing the emergence of a new generation of modern convenience food and drink as manufacturers respond to rising healthy-eating priorities, quests for foodie-inspired flavours, interests in personalization and competition from speedy delivery services. F&B players are innovating to meet the new age consumer’s preferences for premium products that are more natural, nutritious, or customizable products that help people keep pace with busy schedules without sacrificing their health goals or curiosity for new ingredients, flavors, or formats.

Latest trends that are revamping the food industry

The growing segment of consumers who are on-the-go and, conversely, those who want to spend more time at home will drive the demand for upscale packaged food and drink products that offer ‘speed scratch’ solutions or restaurant-quality, ready-to-consume food and drink. ‘Healthy’, ‘Premium’ and ‘Convenient’ will be the buzzwords that will drive the food industry in 2019.

What are several innovations that are forcing a change in the frozen food industry?

Consumers are looking for variety and healthy options that are prepared and ready for them, and yet they don’t want to sacrifice any flavour. This gives the frozen food industry an excellent opportunity to grow, expand its selections by innovating to include these types of meals. From chef-prepared frozen meals to microwavable superfood dinners, to plant-based offerings, usage of ancient grains, experimenting with ethnic flavours, to the adoption of sustainable sourcing practices - we are seeing innovation on every front.

At Sumeru, we have introduced many of these trends. Whether it’s our Parathas range that comes in authentic traditional flavours of Turmeric, Ajwain, Beetroot, Methi etc. or our authentic Kebabs curated by Masterchef India judge Chef Ajay Chopra which embodies the flavours of the Royal Kitchens of the Nawabs.

 Major challenges in the frozen food industry

Frozen Food manufacturers are under greater consumer scrutiny to deliver higher-quality food at more competitive prices and as supply chains become more complex. The competition is tough, Frozen Food players need to think outside the box and innovate to meet these challenges.

Though the consumer perception has changed in the urban markets, consumers still need to be educated on how ‘Frozen products are as good as fresh’. 

Those familiar with cold storage warehouse management know it’s a highly specialised skill. Though the availability of retail infrastructure to store frozen foods has improved in larger cities and organized retail. It still proves to be a challenge in smaller stores.