Consumer foodservice in 2024: The big picture
Consumer foodservice in India continued its steady expansion in 2024, shaped by evolving consumer behaviour rather than significant volume gains. The fusion of hybrid work models and staggered meal patterns helped drive consistent activity across quick-service, cloud kitchens, and cafés throughout the day. Consumers demanded greater value, often opting for combo meals, loyalty offers, and bundled snacks, while showing a willingness to pay premiums for sustainability, local ingredients, and healthier options. Tier2 and tier3 cities emerged as critical growth markets, with chains adopting smaller, asset-light formats and menu customisations, while independent consumer foodservice operators strengthened their foothold through UPI-enabled payments, loyalty tie-ups with delivery platforms, and local culinary appeal.
2024 key trends
Delivery services evolved into omnichannel ecosystems in 2024, with brands integrating dine-in outlets with cloud kitchens to meet the growing demand for delivery orders from residential and office workers without expanding their physical presence. Street stalls/kiosks remains the dominant consumer foodservice format in India but due to limited delivery systems the channel has historically had limited online sales. However, street stalls/kiosks are now increasingly adapting by partnering with prominent third-party delivery providers to cater to the growing consumer demand for food delivery. This was reflected in the dynamic growth of delivery orders in 2024.
Competitive landscape
Domino’s Pizza solidified its leadership by doubling down on its expansion into tier2 and tier3 cities. The chain attracted consumers through value-driven deals such as its ‘under-99-rupee’ pizzas, and rapid mid-day specials. It also made increasing use of app-only discounts and promotional tie-ins to encourage consumers to make orders. Yum! Brands maintained a strong second position with KFC increasing its number of Express kiosks at petrol stations and shopping malls. Meanwhile, its Pizza Hut chain is testing modular dine-in formats, while Taco Bell is experimenting with masala variants to appeal to Indian tastes.
Independent foodservice developments
Chained consumer foodservice saw stronger growth than independent consumer foodservice in 2024, backed by the rapid rise of prominent chains such as Domino’s Pizza and KFC. Nonetheless, independent operators continued to dominate because of the sheer number of these outlets. As these outlets are independent, the space requirements and investment are lower, which allows them to charge affordable prices for their food offerings. Such relatively lower-priced menus continued to attract the large number of less affluent consumers in India, helping to maintain strong sales growth during the year.
What next for consumer foodservice?
Going forward, the growth of India’s consumer foodservice market will likely be driven by targeted expansion into tier2 and tier3 cities via compact formats such as street stalls/kiosks, cloud kitchens, wellness snack counters. There is also likely to be a focus on localised menu pilots aligned with regional festivals as a way to generate interest and excitement. Brands will, however, increasingly need access to full omnichannel capabilities, including reliable delivery-first formats, structured app loyalty ecosystems, and hybrid pick-up points within residential and office clusters. The implementation of the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is also expected to lower barriers to the digital market for independent operators and small chains. Finally, sustainability and health credentials such as plant-based meal options, biodegradable packaging, and farm-to-table sourcing, will likely increasingly become baseline expectations rather than premium differentiators.
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Overview:
Understand the latest market trends and future growth opportunities for the Consumer Foodservice industry in India with research from Euromonitor International's team of in-country analysts – experts by industry and geographic specialisation.
Key trends are clearly and succinctly summarised alongside the most current research data available. Understand and assess competitive threats and plan corporate strategy with our qualitative analysis, insight and confident growth projections.
Data and analysis in this report provides further detailed coverage dedicated to the following key categories, where applicable:
- Cafés/Bars
- Full-Service Restaurants
- Limited-Service Restaurants
- Self-Service Cafeterias
- Street Stalls/Kiosks
- Consumer Foodservice by Location
If you're in the Consumer Foodservice industry in India, our research will help you to make informed, intelligent decisions; to recognise and profit from opportunity, or to offer resilience amidst market uncertainty.
The Consumer Foodservice in India report includes:
- Analysis of key supply-side and demand trends
- Detailed segmentation of international and local products
- Historic volume and value sizes, company and brand market shares
- Five year forecasts of market trends and market growth
- Robust and transparent research methodology, conducted in-country
This report answers:
- What is the market size of Consumer Foodservice in India?
- Which are the leading brands in Consumer Foodservice in India?
- How are multinational and local operators competing and expanding in India?
- How are consumer lifestyle trends and eating habits shaping Consumer Foodservice in India?
- How is the Consumer Foodservice industry adapting to a post-COVID-19 market environment? Where are the opportunities amidst the challenges?
- How significant are health considerations in shaping the future of Consumer Foodservice in India? Which of these trends hold the greatest potential demand?
- Where is future growth expected to be most dynamic?
Consumer Foodservice in India
Consumer foodservice in 2024: The big picture
2024 key trends
Competitive landscape
Independent foodservice developments
What next for consumer foodservice?
DISCLAIMER
Cafés/Bars in India
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Inflationary pressures and health trends redefine consumer spending in cafés/bars
Players expand into non-metro cities as competition intensifies
Delivery innovation and value packaging reshape purchase channels amid rising convenience demand
Growing emphasis on health and wellness set to drive innovation
Continued expansion into emerging cities with adaptive formats and localised menus
Players set to adopt new strategies to increase sales
Full-Service Restaurants in India
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Growing preference for experiential dining and premiumisation
Market competition intensifies with new entrants in tier-2 and tier-3 cities
Buffet options provide value and convenience for consumers
Rising demand for customised and health-focused menus
Digital services gaining prominence but eat-in experiences will remain key
Sustainable and specialist menus present growth opportunities
Limited-Service Restaurants in India
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Inflation and increased health consciousness inform growth and development in 2024
Players under pressure to adapt their menus as competition grows
Platform independence and hybrid fulfilment to gain strategic focus
Tier-2 cities and emerging urban zones set to be the focus of expansion
Regional and indulgent flavours and healthier options set to fuel menu innovation
Rising costs pushing operators away from third-party delivery services
Self-Service Cafeterias in India
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Shift in urban foot traffic patterns limits weekday visits to self-service cafeterias
Transparency and value remain key factors for consumers in post-pandemic India
Employer-led cafeteria management shifts toward outsourced professional operators
Integration with employee benefits platforms could strengthen daily use frequency
Players could find success by expanding into new areas
Menus focusing on comfort staples should continue to appeal to regular diners
Street Stalls/Kiosks in India
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Street stalls/kiosks evolve with semi-permanent setups and delivery options
Colleges, tuition hubs, and coaching centres drive steady snacking demand
Regional diversity in menu offerings strengthens cultural connect and local loyalty
Street stalls/kiosks expected to thrive in transit hubs and semi-urban markets
Opportunity to expand consumer base through hygiene-led certification or branding
Digital discovery driving footfall, while food trucks present new opportunities
Consumer Foodservice By Location in India
KEY DATA FINDINGS
Travel and lodging locations benefit from expanding infrastructure and diverse consumer traffic
Retail locations use foodservice as a tool to compete with e-commerce
Leisure locations adopt safer dining practices and more grab-and-go options
Travel locations and tier-2 and tier-3 cities offer strong growth potential
Focus on convenience set to shape foodservice layouts and formats across all touchpoints
Health, hygiene, and transparency becoming decisive factors
The following categories and subcategories are included:
Consumer Foodservice
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- Chained Consumer Foodservice
- Independent Consumer Foodservice
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- Chained Cafés/Bars
- Independent Cafés/Bars
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- Chained Bars/Pubs
- Independent Bars/Pubs
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- Chained Cafés
- Independent Cafés
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- Chained Juice/Smoothie Bars
- Independent Juice/Smoothie Bars
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- Chained Specialist Coffee and Tea Shops
- Independent Specialist Coffee and Tea Shops
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- Chained Full-Service Restaurants
- Independent Full-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Asian Full-Service Restaurants
- Independent Asian Full-Service Restaurants
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- Chained European Full-Service Restaurants
- Independent European Full-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Latin American Full-Service Restaurants
- Independent Latin American Full-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Middle Eastern Full-Service Restaurants
- Independent Middle Eastern Full-Service Restaurants
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- Chained North American Full-Service Restaurants
- Independent North American Full-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Pizza Full-Service Restaurants
- Independent Pizza Full-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Other Full-Service Restaurants
- Independent Other Full-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Asian Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Asian Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Bakery Products Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Bakery Products Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Burger Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Burger Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Chicken Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Chicken Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Convenience Stores Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Convenience Stores Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Fish Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Fish Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Ice Cream Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Ice Cream Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Latin American Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Latin American Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Middle Eastern Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Middle Eastern Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Pizza Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Pizza Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Other Limited-Service Restaurants
- Independent Other Limited-Service Restaurants
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- Chained Self-Service Cafeterias
- Independent Self-Service Cafeterias
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- Chained Street Stalls/Kiosks
- Independent Street Stalls/Kiosks
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- Consumer Foodservice Through Standalone
- Consumer Foodservice Through Leisure
- Consumer Foodservice Through Retail
- Consumer Foodservice Through Lodging
- Consumer Foodservice Through Travel
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- Takeaway Online Ordering
- Takeaway Offline Ordering
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- First-Party Delivery Services
- Third-Party Delivery Services
- Delivery Offline Ordering
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- Drive-Through
- Eat-In
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- Takeaway Online Ordering
- Delivery Online Ordering
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- Takeaway Offline Ordering
- Delivery Offline Ordering
- Drive-Through
- Eat-in
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Consumer Foodservice
Consumer foodservice is composed of cafés/bars, full-service restaurants, limited-service restaurants, self-service cafeterias and street stalls/kiosks.
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This report originates from Passport, our Consumer Foodservice research and analysis database.
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