MAM
Ipsos Study 74% Indians are content with their current body weight
MUMBAI: According to a new study by Ipsos that explores world’s food habits, insights about Indians are particularly interesting as they bust myths about food habits of Indians: Indians are choosing organic food, saying no to genetically modified food and are willing to choose plant-based substitute for meat; most Indians are happy with their appearance and don’t have much faith in diet plans. Food is the key motivation for them to follow an exercise regimen and they would rather eat well than look emaciated. Riding on convenience and due to sheer paucity of time, Indians plan to get groceries and food home delivered more frequently in the next one year. Preparing healthy meals at home and eating out will be their priority!
Rinku Patnaik, Chief Client Officer, Ipsos India finds the findings of the survey quite interesting from the marketers’ standpoint:“Consumers are clearly stating what they want; there is a plethora of opportunity to capitalize on. So, from merchandizing to distribution, to mobility and accessibility, these opportunities should be leveraged, by marketers. Also, there is no stereotypical Indian consumer. If she orders-in grocery and food, she eats out with equal élan and she even prides herself in rustling up great meals at home. And there is no point in body shaming her. She will not stop eating to appease to the spiel of brands. She is very clear about what she wants and how she should be prioritizing.”
Food for thought
The findings are urban centric and reflect views of netizens.
57% Indians claim to be consuming organic food. In sharp contrast, the developed world is least likely to eat organic food – only 12% of Brits and 13% of Japanese, for instance.
65% Indians say that they are opposed to eating a genetically modified (GM) food.
We know that Indians love their food and would drool for specialties like tandoori chicken, mutton, fish and their various non-vegetarian avatars. But 63% of Indians polled say that are willing to eat a plant- based substitute for meat.73 per cent Chinese too are willing to swap their meat for a plant-based substitute – this finding is in sharp contrast to popular perception about the Chinese, being active meat eaters!Further, 56% Indians say that they are OK with not consuming any type of non-vegetarian food– and can do without mutton, poultry or fish. Globally, the trend is the reverse; across all markets polled, people prefer a diet that includes some type of meat.
Weight & Exercise
The shenanigans spouting weight management to Indians watch out! 74% Indians are content with their current weight!And while57% Indians have tried a diet plan to lose weight, 59 per centIndians believe that most diet plans ultimately failand see futility in the exercise.
So, what motivates Indians to exercise?67% Indians confess that the sole trigger for them to gym or walk or follow an exercise regimen is that they do not have to watch what they eat! Ergo, food tends to dominate their mind and makes them alter their lifestyle – and they get to eat whatever titillates their palate!
And, if it’s a toss up between eating well and being thin, 77% Indians say they would choose the former – and would not compromise on good food.
Prospects for access to food in future – cost, quality etc.
While inflation does play a role in determining the cost of essential commodities, at the same time,47% Indians are optimistic that cost of food will improve in futureand they will have access to food at better prices. Likewise,59% Indians are optimistic that there will behealthy food optionsin the future and 48% Indians feel that the environmental impact on food will also get better in the future.
Homedelivery is the new normal? So is cooking at home. And eating out!
Crunched for time and looking for convenience, at least 47% Indians foresee a spike in home delivery of groceries and expect it to get more frequentin the next one year. Convenience seeking Indians also foresee homedelivery of meals getting more frequent (38%) in the next one year; though 36% feel it will remain the same as last year. A paradox – 48 per cent Indians expect preparing meals at hometo get more frequent in the next one year;on the contrary, 28% Indians say they will be eating out more frequently this year, while 40 per cent say they will be eating out as many times as they did last year!
“The findings reflect an urban skew as it’s an online survey and upwardly mobile consumers were interviewed,” cautions Patnaik.
Brands
Hyundai and TVS Motor partner to develop electric three wheelers
Joint development pact targets last mile mobility with localisation push
MUMBAI: Three wheels, one big ambition and a charge towards the future. Hyundai Motor Company and TVS Motor Company have signed a joint development agreement to co-create electric three-wheelers (E3Ws), aiming to crack India’s complex last-mile mobility puzzle. The collaboration moves beyond concept talk into execution mode, building on the E3W prototype first showcased at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025. The goal now is clear, design, develop and commercialise a purpose-built vehicle tailored to Indian roads, riders and realities.
Under the agreement, Hyundai will lead design and co-development, bringing its global R&D muscle and human-centric engineering approach to the table. TVS Motor, meanwhile, will anchor the product on its electric platform, leveraging deep three-wheeler expertise and local market insight. It will also handle manufacturing and sales in India, with an eye on exports down the line.
The timing is strategic. India remains the world’s largest three-wheeler market, where affordability, durability and adaptability often outweigh sheer innovation. The upcoming E3W aims to strike that balance combining advanced technology with practical features such as adaptive ground clearance for monsoon-hit roads, improved thermal management for tropical climates, and flexible interiors suited for passengers, cargo or emergency use.
A key pillar of the partnership is localisation. Major components will be sourced and manufactured within India, a move expected to strengthen the domestic supply chain, create jobs, lower costs and improve after-sales support.
The shift from prototype to production will involve rigorous testing, certification and refinement to meet regulatory standards and consumer expectations. Dedicated cross-functional teams from both companies are already in place to accelerate timelines.
At a broader level, the tie-up reflects a growing trend in mobility, global players partnering with local specialists to navigate emerging markets. For Hyundai and TVS, the bet is that combining scale with street-level insight could unlock a new chapter in sustainable urban transport, one that runs not just on electricity, but on relevance.
