Frozen foods are rapidly making their way into kitchens:Burger patties, nuggets momos are now part of lunch dinner

In Indian kitchens, frozen food is no longer just for emergencies or parties. Products like burger, patties, nuggets, momos, and kebabs are rapidly becoming part of everyday meals. According to Market Research Future, the country’s frozen food market is expected to grow by more than 14% annually over the next 10 years. Changing lifestyles, the increasing number of working women, and the expansion of quick commerce – these three forces are collectively taking this market to the next level. Companies like ITC MasterChef, McCain, and LT Foods are investing heavily in new products, cold chain infrastructure, and digital channels. People want home-style food, but not the hassle of preparation The frozen food category is currently growing at an annual rate of around 13%. In this, the pace of ready-made frozen snacks is much faster than traditional frozen vegetables, such as peas and corn. According to Rishabh Jain, Managing Director of Alvarez Marsal India, customers want food that is freshly cooked at home, but without the hassle of preparation. Products like nuggets, fries and momos are therefore selling the fastest. In these, the customer does the final cooking themselves. Know the four major reasons for the growing popularity of frozen food 1. Changed Lifestyle – Rising income, busy routines, increasing working women have changed daily meal planning. 2. Air Fryer Culture – Air fryers that provide a restaurant-like experience at home have opened new doors for the consumption of frozen snacks. 3. Quick Commerce Reach – Platforms like Swiggy, Instamart, Blinkit are delivering frozen products to young buyers within minutes. 4. Beyond Just Snacking – ITC MasterChef says – Frozen food is no longer just snacking, it’s becoming part of lunch-dinner. Big Preparations by Companies: ITC MasterChef – Onion rings, peri-peri prawns, falafel kebabs, sabudana tikki; IQF (Individually Quick Freezing) technology. McCain Foods India – Special products for air fryers; after-school snacking and mini meal segment. LT Foods (Daawat) – Biryani kit, Thai green curry rice kit, kappa rice; over 45% annual growth from digital channels. Expensive Cold Chain from Factory to Retail Shelf The frozen food market is certainly attractive, but making a profit is not easy. Maintaining an uninterrupted cold chain from factory to retail shelf is very expensive. According to Rishabh Jain, success in this segment will depend on how well companies can balance distribution costs with affordable prices. It is also necessary to continuously introduce new products because people quickly get bored with the same type of food.