Malmö, Sweden headquartered AAK, India’s leading manufacturer of specialty oils and fats, has announced a new partnership with Vista Processed Foods Pvt Ltd, part of OSI group, to meet the country’s growing demand for plant-based meat alternatives.
It is estimated that as many as 29% of people in India are vegetarian. There is also increasing interest in veganism and flexitarianism, largely driven by health-focused, eco-conscious millennials.
The country’s meat alternative market is in its early stages, but commercial adoption is accelerating, with plant-based options increasingly common in quick service restaurants (QSR) and online. In 2019, Ipsos research found that 63% of Indians were willing to eat a plant-based substitute for meat.
“Indian consumers are increasingly concerned about climate change, animal welfare and health, which is fuelling demand for plant-based alternatives to meat”
Last year AAK partnered with the Good Food Institute India to help advance India’s promising plant-based meat and dairy alternative market. After Vista Processed Foods participated in an AAK ACADEMY session, the two companies agreed to partner.
They will now collaborate to create products from a variety of different plant proteins that meet the taste and texture needs of Indian markets. Working on a co-development basis, Vista will manufacture plant-based products for customers, with AAK providing its expertise in areas such as new product development.
Dheeraj Talreja, president, India, at AAK, said: “As elsewhere in the world, Indian consumers are increasingly concerned about climate change, animal welfare and health, which is fuelling demand for plant-based alternatives to meat. We’re delighted to have this opportunity.
Main image: India offers a major opportunity for packaged plant-based food specialists and ingredient suppliers
