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Fries are now big business in India, say HyFun Foods and Sandwizzaa
From soggy side dish to sales powerhouse, the humble fry is reshaping India’s frozen food and QSR menus
Mumbai: Forget the side plate. French fries have shoved their way to the centre of India’s quick-service and frozen food business, riding a wave of convenience cravings, fatter QSR footprints and consumers who simply cannot say no to a crisp, salted stick of potato.
Haresh Karamchandani, md and group chief executive at HyFun Foods, is in no mood for modesty. “French fries have evolved from being a popular quick-service favourite to becoming one of the fastest-growing categories within India’s frozen food industry,” he said. India, he argued, has muscled its way into the global frozen potato trade, with HyFun Foods among the first to ship premium Indian fries abroad.
The numbers back the swagger. HyFun Foods now exports to more than 40 countries, leaning on an integrated farm-to-fork chain and partnerships with thousands of farmers to keep supply steady and quality consistent. Karamchandani reckons India’s manufacturing muscle and food-processing know-how make it an increasingly vital cog in the global food machine — and he wants HyFun Foods out front as the country’s calling card for frozen potato products.
The fry frenzy is not confined to freezer aisles. On the foodservice floor, it has become the quiet engine behind bigger baskets and repeat visits. Pankaj Sharma, director at Sandwizzaa, said fries have graduated from afterthought to anchor. “Fries have become an important category for us, not just as an add-on but as a meaningful contributor to the business,” he said, pointing to their broad appeal across age groups and their knack for beefing up combo deals. “Fries complete the meal experience and give customers more reason to order more frequently.”
Convenience, quality and value are now the holy trinity driving Indian food habits — and fries sit squarely at the intersection of all three. National French Fry Day is as good an excuse as any to mark the shift: a once-throwaway side has muscled onto the main stage, and it shows no sign of stepping back. Bet on the fry.
