Farmley: Protein and clean labels top snacking priorities as quick commerce fuels healthy demand
Farmley's Healthy Snacking 2026 report finds 86% of consumers rank protein as important and 61% favour natural sweeteners, with 60% of parents paying more for healthy kids' snacks. Quick commerce is accelerating premiumisation across India's health foods market, forecast to grow from $109.87B in 2025 to $173B by 2035.
What happened
Farmley's Healthy Snacking 2026 report finds protein, clean labels and quick commerce reshaping Indian snacking. Consumers prioritize protein and natural
Key facts
- 86% consider protein important
- 61% favour natural sweeteners
- 60% parents pay more for healthy kids snacks
- 30% prefer resealable packs
- 25% favour eco-friendly packaging
- $109.87B health foods market 2025
- $173B by 2035
- 4.6% CAGR
Why this matters
Consider acquiring or partnering with clean-label protein snack brands that already have strong quick-commerce distribution to accelerate entry into India's premiumising health foods segment.
What to watch
- FSSAI guidance on protein and 'natural sweetener' labeling claims
- Quick-commerce take-rate and ad-fee changes for health-food listings
- Competitor protein-bar/makhana launches and pricing moves
- Input cost swings for nuts, dates, whey and natural sweeteners
- Repeat-purchase data validating kids' premium snack willingness-to-pay
- Launch protein-forward and natural-sweetener SKUs targeting kids and on-the-go segments
- Lock quick-commerce shelf placement and dark-store inventory ahead of competitors
- Invest in front-of-pack protein/clean-label claims backed by lab substantiation
- Tiered pricing to capture premium parents while defending mainstream volume