Food-Processing Industry Can Deliver Prosperity for Farmers & Consumers, says Avinash Joshi, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries at FICCI Annapoorna Inter Food Exhibition 2025 in Mumbai

by Shrutee Kate 

Gen Z Set to Propel India’s Food & Processing Appliance Market Beyond USD 50 Billion according to FICCI Annapoorna Interfood 2025 FMI report

Mumbai, 11th December, 2025: “FICCI’s Annapoorna Interfood event is a window into the potential of India’s food processing industry to transform agriculture, livelihoods, and consumer experience,” said Avinash Joshi, IAS, Secretary, MoFPI, today in Mumbai.

Avinash Joshi was speaking at the 17th edition of the Annapoorna Interfood Exhibition, organized by FICCI in collaboration with the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI). “With rising agricultural productivity, growing domestic demand, and evolving consumption patterns, we must scale up processing, value-addition, and food-safety standards, otherwise farmers will forego the prosperity they deserve, and consumers will miss out on choice, quality, and fairness. Through policy support, subsidies, and credible regulation, we aim to ensure this sector flourishes, for everyone, ” added Joshi.

The Annapoorna Interfood event which drew a large gathering of stakeholders from across India, Africa, US, Europe, UAE and Australia, featured participation from leading food-processing companies, buyers, and trade professionals, with representation from 17–18 countries exploring India’s dynamic market.

Emphasizing the importance of government support in driving sectoral growth, Joshi highlighted that India’s strength lies in its agricultural foundation, and the country’s challenge, and opportunity, is to convert that foundation into sustainable prosperity through food processing. Under flagship schemes such as the PM Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY) and the PMFME Scheme (Pradhan Mantri Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises), MoFPI provides extensive assistance including capital subsidies for small and micro enterprises, financial support of 35%–50% for setting up cold-chain facilities, food-testing labs, incubation centers, and processing units in agricultural clusters, as well as special incentives and seed funding for self-help groups, particularly women-led SHGs, to begin food-processing ventures. “Through these programmes, we are not just processing produce , we are transforming rural livelihoods, boosting employment, and offering consumers better quality and diverse products,” Joshi noted.

At the event, Ms. Nandini Roy Chowdhury, Principal Consultant at Future Market Insights, presented an industry report highlighting how Gen Z has redefined the meaning of a modern consumer. Unlike millennials, Gen X, or boomers, Gen Z’s relationship with products, technology, and brands is fundamentally different, influencing not only how they shop but also how they eat, the tools they use, and the standards they expect from brands.

Nandini added “Gen Z has completely redefined what it means to be a modern consumer. For them, transparency isn't a value-add, it’s the bare minimum. They want to know where products come from, what goes into them, and how they impact the world. If brands cannot answer these questions clearly, Gen Z simply walks away.”

L-R:
Balvinder Singh Sawhney, Assistant Secretary General, FICCI
Rajesh Rathod ED, Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation
Avinash Joshi, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries
Nandini Roy Chowdhury, Principal Consultant, Future Market Insights
Dr. K. U. Methekar, Joint Director, FSSAI
Ashwani Pande, CEO, VA exhibitions
At Annapoorna Inter Food 2025 in Mumbai

She further added “Unlike millennials who shaped the first wave of conscious consumerism, Gen Z lives in a faster, tech-powered world. Their discovery happens through creators, trends, and visuals, not long-form ads. This shift is reshaping everything, from how food is prepared at home to the rapid growth of domestic kitchen appliances, a market projected to cross USD 50 billion by 2035, rising from USD 32.1 billion in 2027, reflecting this generation’s strong impact on consumption trends.

State-level industrial momentum was also highlighted by Rajesh Rathod, Executive Director of the Madhya Pradesh Industrial Development Corporation (MPIDC), who noted that his state is witnessing strong investor interest in food processing. “With improved connectivity, growing infrastructure, and availability of land and workforce, Madhya Pradesh is fast becoming a preferred destination for food-processing units. The sector holds immense promise, and we are committed to supporting investors,” he said.

Industry leaders further emphasized the significance of this platform. Balvinder Singh Sawhney, Assistant Secretary-General of FICCI, welcomed the gathering and underscored the importance of exhibitions like Annapoorna in the post-COVID-19 era. “The pandemic accelerated consumer demand for convenience, quality, and safety. Today’s exhibition reconnects the value chain, bringing together producers, processors, regulators, and buyers, and opening up new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and growth,” he stated.

Now in its 17th edition, the Annapoorna Interfood Exhibition remains one of India’s most established platforms dedicated to the food-processing industry, said Ashwani Pande, CEO, VA exhibitions. Bringing together small-scale producers, large enterprises, exporters, regulators, and policymakers under one roof, it provides an in-depth look at India’s evolving food ecosystem added Ashwani. The Annapoorna Exhibition showcases India’s growing food-processing ecosystem, offering a national platform where producers, processors, exporters, and buyers converge. The exhibition not only highlights emerging products but also serves as a significant outreach forum, offering clear guidance on processing standards, food safety protocols overseen by FSSAI, and export norms enforced by APEDA.