Who’s building the plant-based industry in India?
With a history steeped in plant-rich food and one of the world’s lowest levels of meat consumption, India has immense potential for a thriving plant-based food industry. The country has an emerging ecosystem of food tech innovators, marketers, researchers, and movement organizations. These stakeholders are taking plant-based food to new heights and coming into their own as a secular and proud growth area.
Read on to meet the people behind four of India’s most exciting plant-based businesses – from rising stars to well-established industry moguls.
Sonal, Founder/CEO, WhiteCub
A pioneer in India’s plant-based industry, Sonal launched WhiteCub in 2013 to address the country’s vacuum in dairy alternatives, at the time. The brand’s name is a dedication to the mission of Global White Lion Protection Trust. What began as a plant-based ice cream parlor quickly diversified into a thriving brand offering multiple alternative dairy products, including ice cream, butter, lassi, milk, and curds. All products within the range are completely plant-based, cholesterol-free, and free from trans-fats.
USP: Healthy and sustainable sweet treats and dairy alternatives for the Indian market.
What’s next?
WhiteCub is looking for funding to scale up further, expanding its presence beyond the existing five ice cream parlors and retail products available online and in stores across India.
Meeta Madhok, Co-Founder, Drupe Foods
Meeta Madhok co-founded and self-funded Drupe Foods with her daughter, Aneesha Madhok, to fill the gap in the market for a natural, minimally processed, and sustainable almond milk product in India.
Marketed towards health-motivated consumers, Drupe’s products are free from thickeners, preservatives, fortifiers, or artificial sweeteners. Made from skin-on almonds (for added health benefits), Drupe almond milk comes in four varieties: plain (sweetened/unsweetened), cocoa, and vanilla. The products are flavored using only natural, local ingredients, such as pure date syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and cocoa beans.
USPs: Natural and minimally processed. Packaged in biodegradable 200ml bottles to reduce product waste. A sustainability policy of collecting unsold bottles and redistributing them to local NGOs and orphanages.
What’s next?
Expanding their product line-up with new products like plant-based dark chocolate balls and increasing their online and offline retail presence.
Abhishek Sinha, CEO/Co-Founder, GoodDot
GoodDot was founded in 2018, shortly after CEO, Abhishek Sinha, rescued a goat he named Guddu from a nearby slaughterhouse. Together with Co-Founder, Deepak Parihar, and a team of friends, Abhishek started what is now a thriving plant-based meat company.
GoodDot’s meaty plant-based products are well known across India, and the range includes plant-based versions of traditional dishes, such as Unmutton Dhaba Curry Kit, Vegicken Chunks in Brine, Unmutton Keema, and Eggless Bhurji.
USPs: Affordable, protein-rich plant-based alternatives that mimic the taste and texture of meat.
What’s next?
New products and partnerships are on the horizon for GoodDot. The brand has just announced the launch of its new Soy Chaap into Indian retail and has two B2B clients for the product. The brand has also partnered with Absolute Barbecues India to launch its plant-based options in 50 food service outlets across the country.
Smitha Devigere, Founder/CEO, Devigere Biosolutions
Biotechnology professional Smitha Devigere has more than six years of experience in research and development in the extraction of biomolecules; a PGDB in Molecular Biology and BE in Biotechnology. Building on this knowledge, she is helping to usher in a new era of plant-based proteins in India, through her biotechnology company Devigere Biosolutions. The organization produces novel, sustainable plant-based protein concentrates for use in multiple industries, with a focus on food. All products are clean-label and GMO-free, and include products for use in baked foods (as a replacement for eggs), plant-based meat, seafood and dairy, sports nutrition, and biopharma.
Though founded in 2020, Devigere Biosolutions has already grown significantly to set an industry-standard in India that is both innovative and eco-friendly. According to the company, its vision remains to “produce novel, chemical-free, and nutritious food products for the growing world.”1
USP: 100% clean-label, non-GMO, and gluten-free plant protein concentrates with broad application ranges.
What’s next?
Smitha has just opened a new Plant Protein Research and Experience Center at Bangalore Bioinnovation Center, Electronic City, Bangalore. According to Smitha, “This protein facility will help us to boost our research work and create tailor-made solutions for protein-rich food product development for our customers.”2
Immense potential
While these innovators are paving the way for a successful Indian plant-based market, they’re also part of a broader movement. The Indian government’s support, particularly in the promotion of millet as a national protein crop, is boosting the industry. However, further governmental support and addressing value chain, infrastructure, and processing challenges are crucial for continued growth.
The recently formed Plant Protein Cluster Initiative is a promising development. Operating across 12 Indian states, the initiative aims to establish India as the world’s ‘Ingredient Hub’ by providing partnership and co-investment opportunities to transform the food and agriculture processing industries. You can learn more about the Indian Plant Protein Cluster Initiative, here.
Stay ahead in the plant-based industry by connecting with India’s leading innovators and exploring partnership opportunities with the Plant Protein Cluster Initiative.
India’s plant-based market is on the cusp of significant growth. Engage with these trailblazers to be part of this exciting journey toward a sustainable and innovative future in food.
Stay tuned for further articles on India’s plant-based industry. For more support on your alternative protein strategy, ProVeg’s team of experts are on hand to help. Get in touch at [email protected].
References
- Devigere Biosolutions. Available at: http://www.devigerebiosolutions.com/contact_Us.php. Accessed 2024-07-15.
- Devigere Biosolutions LinkedIn. Available at: https://www.linkedin.com/company/devigere-biosolutions-pvt-ltd/posts/?feedView=all, Accessed 2024-07-15.
