Makhana Sees 25x Growth as India`s Rs.70,000 Crore Snacking Industry Transforms: Key Insights from Farmley`s Indian Healthy Snacking Summit 2025
The Indian Healthy Snacking Summit 2025, presented by India’s leading snacking brand Farmley, convened over 1,500 attendees including industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators to chart the course for India's rapidly evolving healthy snacking ecosystem. The summit, held on July 18th in the national capital at Bharat Mandapam, unveiled ground breaking insights into consumer behaviour and market dynamics that are reshaping the Rs.70,000 crore Indian snacking industry.
The highlight of the event was the launch of Farmley's comprehensive Healthy Snacking Report 2025, revealing that 72% of Indian consumers now actively seek healthier snacking alternatives, with 65% identifying makhana as their preferred superfood. The report also highlighted the dramatic shift in purchasing behaviour, with 43% of Gen Z and Millennials ordering packaged snacks weekly via quick commerce platforms.
The summit, spearheaded by Farmley founders Akash Sharma and Abhishek Agarwal, brought together speakers including Revant Himatsingka, Founder of Food Pharmer; Amitesh Jha, CEO of Swiggy Instamart; Anish Srivastava, Senior Vice President at Blinkit; Shail Pancholi, Country Director at Wonderful Pistachios; and other industry stalwarts. In a groundbreaking partnership, Shark Tank India Season 5 set up a dedicated booth at the summit, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to record their business pitches as audition tapes for the show's 5th anniversary season.
Akash Sharma, Co-founder of Farmley, stated, "The second edition of the Indian Healthy Snacking Summit marks a pivotal moment in India's food evolution. Our Healthy Snacking Report 2025 demonstrates that Indian consumers are no longer willing to compromise between health and taste. With 94% of respondents prioritising taste alongside nutrition, we're witnessing a fundamental shift in how India snacks."
Speaking about the Shark Tank India partnership, Sharma added, "Every successful entrepreneur's journey begins with a single opportunity to be heard. This on-ground audition format is revolutionising how we discover and nurture talent, giving founders the chance to showcase their vision in a more personal, accessible setting."
Anish Srivastava, Senior Vice President at Blinkit, delivering insights on unlocking market access for new-age brands, noted, "The secret to success in healthy snacking isn't going wide, it's going deep. We've witnessed makhana grow 25x on our platform, and clean label searches are spiking consistently. Quick commerce is democratising access to healthy snacks, enabling brands to reach consumers at their moment of craving with transparency and convenience."
Amitesh Jha, CEO of Swiggy Instamart, commenting on the quick commerce revolution in healthy snacking, shared, "The 43% weekly ordering rate among younger demographics isn't just a statistic – it represents a fundamental shift in how Indians discover and consume snacks. We're seeing unprecedented demand for protein-enriched, sugar-free, and clean-label products, with healthy snacking categories growing 3x faster than traditional segments."
Representatives from FSSAI provided crucial regulatory insights during the Government Outlook session, emphasising the importance of transparent labelling and quality standards in building consumer trust in the healthy snacking category.
Revant Himatsingka, Founder of Food Pharmer, who has been instrumental in driving India's health revolution, delivered truth bombs that resonated with the audience: "Longer the ingredient list, longer the medication list – this is why reading labels is a quiet revolution. The fact that 55% of consumers now actively seek natural, preservative-free ingredients shows we're at a tipping point. My prediction is clear: India doesn't need more hospitals, it needs more health literacy."
Shail Pancholi, Country Director at Wonderful Pistachios, shared insights on building a billion-dollar healthy snacking brand: "The Indian market's embrace of premium, healthy snacking options presents an unprecedented opportunity. Success lies in understanding that today's consumer seeks authenticity, sustainability, and functionality. All wrapped in familiar, comforting flavours."
Key Insights from the Healthy Snacking Report 2025:
* 84% of respondents consume packaged snacks multiple times a week
* Makhana emerges as the undisputed hero, with 65% actively including it as a superfood
* 75% of consumers believe in a phygital approach, balancing online discovery with offline shopping
* Resealable, eco-friendly packaging influences 52% of purchase decisions
* Roasted and flavoured dry fruits lead savoury preferences at 36%
Building on last year's success, the 2nd edition of the Indian Healthy Snacking Summit 2025 has established itself as the definitive platform for stakeholders to collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of India's snacking landscape. The event concluded with a clear message: the future belongs to brands that can seamlessly blend health, taste, and convenience while maintaining authenticity and trust.
Above views are of the author and not of the website kindly read disclaimer
