Godrej Group gives a sneak peek of the third edition of Godrej Food Trends Report

Ghar ka Khana to top the chart in food space

A sneak peek of Godrej Food Trends Report - 2020 was given to the country’s leading food connoisseurs and influencers as a preview at the 4th Tasting India Symposium in Gurugram. The Godrej Food Trends Report has been a treasure trove of trends, predictions information and insights collected and collated from conversations with thought leaders from the industry.

Each year, the Godrej Food Trends Report has been growing in its scope. This year, the third edition is wider, bigger and deeper than ever before. This year we have reached out to over 150 experts – chefs, thought leaders and food influencers across major cities. For the first time, the report will include on ground insights from North (Delhi), South (Chennai and Bengaluru), East (Kolkata) and West (Mumbai). The respondents included celebrity chefs, home chefs. professional chefs, food bloggers, health professionals, media professionals, mixologists, nutritionists, restaurateurs, sommeliers, food producers, and more, all of whom shared deep insights about their respective areas of expertise.

Speaking about the report, Sujit Patil, VP & Head Corporate Brand and Communications Godrej Industries Limited & Associate Companies, said, “Godrej Group is well ensconced in the food industry through various brands such as Godrej Real Good Chicken, Godrej Vegoils, Godrej Appliances, Godrej Interio, Godrej Protekt, Cartini Knives etc. We embarked on this journey two years ago with our first edition. It is interesting and heartwarming to note 2020 will see Emergence of the neighbourhood Foodpreneur, Revival of culinary traditions and a proliferation of desi flavours in everything from small plates to cocktails, and even desserts. When it comes to food, Indians have always preferred Ghar-ka-khana. But the growth of technology is shaping what we eat. It is not only giving a big boost to the food processing industry, but also enabling home chefs to become foodpreneurs. We are hopeful that the Godrej Food Trends Report grows to become a ready reckoner for anyone who is associated with the food industry.”

Survey designer and writer Rushina Munshaw-Ghildiyal, MD, A Perfect Bite Consulting LLP said, “The Godrej Food Trends Report, conceptualized as a guide to help Indian food businesses navigate where to invest resources to meet strategic goals, is the only report of its kind, that reaches out to thought leaders across the Indian food industry to gather quantitative and qualitative responses. With each edition, it has grown in reach, size, and scope. This year, we travelled across India to review regional trends, that were collated, analyzed and distilled into top trends that will prevail in the year to come. In 2020 the food industry will continue to draw inspiration from the home kitchen. Travel will drive culinary exploration more than ever, will see the rise of the neighborhood ‘foodprenuer,’ ghar ka khaana will rule and Indian ingredients and flavours will dominate! A significant new addition to look forward to is the section on emerging conversations that will share insights on trends in Food Media, Food Travel and Food and Sustainability - topics that originated as trends but have grown into vibrant conversations in their own right, today.”

The Godrej Food Trends 2020 Report promises to be an important addition to every food professional’s reading list. The final detailed report, a beautiful 50-page book will be launched in January 2020 at L’Affaire the Godrej group’s annual lifestyle soiree in Mumbai. It will be available for download at www.vikhrolicucina.com

In the meantime, here is a look at the top 10 food trend predictions for 2020:

1.   Continued commitment to provenance and mindful eating

Powered by the growing demand for sustainable practices, consumers will continue to make active choices that help minimize impact on themselves and the environment by supporting local/artisanal producers and eating locally and seasonally.

2.   Deeper exploration of South-East Asian flavours

In 2020, the restaurant industry will offer diners a greater variety of South-East Asian flavours through deeper explorations of the popular cuisines, along with specialist menus from previously unexplored regional, cultural and ethnic cuisines from the region.

3.   Emergence of the neighbourhood Foodpreneur

Growing demand for fresh, healthy, hygienic and familiar ghar-ka-khana, combined with the convenience of digital communication and payment platforms, 2020 will see many more traditional, regional and community cooks start mini-enterprises from their home kitchens, offering limited daily-specials to small communities of their fans.

          4.   Keeping it real

Fuelled by an ever-growing consumer demand for authenticity and relatability, 2020 will see a definitive growth of dining experiences designed around real issues, real people, real ingredients, and real stories!

5.   Longing for ghar-ka-khana

Decline in daily cooking activities at home, due to changing social dynamics and attitudes towards cooking, will see nostalgic diners of 2020 ordering food that reminds them of their own ghar-ka-khana, more often than ever before!

6.   No-compromise convenience cooking

A discerning consumer of 2020, experimenting with the latest health-fads and lifestyle diets, can look forward to many more options for quickly and conveniently assembling personalized meals at home, with little or no compromises to their choices.

7.   Proliferation of desi flavours

As an outcome of persistent demand for all things indigenous, consumers should expect to see a proliferation of desi flavours in everything from small plates to cocktails, and even desserts in 2020!

8.   Return to traditional fats

Growing appreciation for the significance of our choice of cooking medium on key facets of our lives, will inspire more consumers in 2020 to choose with desi ghee, and cold pressed local seed oils, traditionally used by their ancestors over other options.

9.   Rise of the culinary explorer

An evolving sense of social, financial, and cultural independence amongst the youth will drive greater demand for aspirational, novel, and even exotic travel and dining experiences. These experiences will be inspired by exciting new cuisines from within and outside the country.

10.               Revival of culinary traditions

Riding the ongoing wave of deeper exploration and discovery of our culinary heritage, food businesses and restaurants will find exciting new ways of packaging traditional food wisdom, knowledge, cookware, cooking techniques and food preparation methods to make it suitable for the demands of the modern dining experience.

About Godrej Group:

Established in 1897, the Godrej Group has its roots in India's Swadeshi movement. Our founder, Ardeshir Godrej, lawyer-turned-serial entrepreneur failed with a few businesses, before he struck gold with the locks business that you know today.  One of India’s most trusted brands, with revenues of USD 4.1 billion, Godrej enjoys the patronage of over 600 million Indians across our consumer goods, real estate, appliances, agri and many other businesses. You think of Godrej as such an integral part of India that you may be surprised to know that over 25 per cent of our business is done overseas.