Top Food Export Companies in India: A Guide for Importers

India exports food to almost every country in the world, from basmati rice and spices to snacks, dairy and biscuits. For an importer, the challenge isn't finding Indian suppliers. It's knowing which companies lead in each category and which kind of supplier suits your business.

This guide groups some of the best-known Indian food exporters by category. It isn't a ranking, and there are many excellent smaller exporters in every segment.

Rice

Rice is India's biggest food export. KRBL (India Gate) and LT Foods (Daawat) are among the best-known basmati brands internationally, alongside many large private-label millers.

Snacks and sweets

Haldiram's is the name most people think of for Indian namkeen and sweets abroad, with products in Indian stores and mainstream supermarkets in many countries. A long list of regional snack makers export too.

Spices and masalas

Brands such as MDH, Everest and Eastern are widely exported, especially to markets with large South Asian communities. India also ships huge volumes of bulk spices to processors worldwide.

Dairy

Amul, the brand of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, exports ghee, milk powder, cheese and other dairy products to many countries.

Tea and beverages

Tata Consumer Products is one of the largest tea companies in the world, and India's tea estates supply bulk and packaged tea globally.

Ready-to-eat and instant foods

Companies such as MTR Foods and ITC export ready-to-eat meals, mixes and instant foods, a category that has grown with demand from busy households abroad.

Biscuits and bakery

Large brands like Britannia, Parle and ITC Sunfeast are found in Indian stores worldwide. Mid-sized manufacturers such as KROWN, which has baked biscuits in Delhi since 1981 and exports to more than 30 countries, focus on export markets, private label and flexible container orders. We cover biscuit exporters in more detail in our guide to the top biscuit exporters in India.

Choosing an Indian food export partner

• Brand or private label? Famous brands bring shoppers in; private label earns better margins and gives you control.
• Manufacturer or merchant exporter? Manufacturers give you more control over quality and price. Merchant exporters can consolidate many products into one container.
• Certifications. FSSAI, plus ISO 22000, HACCP, BRC or Halal depending on your market.
• Registration support. Many countries need food products registered before import. Your supplier should provide the samples and documents.
• Consistency. The second order should taste and look exactly like the first.

Sourcing Indian biscuits

If biscuits, cookies, wafers or rusk are part of your range, talk to KROWN's export team about samples and pricing, or see our pages for the UAE and Africa.