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K-food firms cook up expansion in India as rapid delivery boom offers new shortcut

Published: 28 May. 2026, 07:00

Nongshim CEO Jo Yong-chul speaks during a press conference marking the 40th anniversary of Shin Ramyun at the Lotte Hotel in central Seoul on May 13. [YONHAP]

India’s rapid delivery boom is giving K-food companies a new shortcut into one of the world’s fastest-growing consumer markets.

Instant noodle maker Nongshim will begin delivery sales of 19 of its products, such as Shin Ramyun and Kimchi-flavored Shin Ramyun, in major Indian cities such as New Delhi and Mumbai through Blinkit, India’s largest quick-commerce platform, according to the noodle maker on May 26.

Lotte Wellfood has been selling its ice cream products, such as its World Cone, through quick commerce platforms in India, such as Blinkit and Zepto. The company reportedly recorded more than 10 billion won ($6.7 million) in sales through quick commerce channels alone last year.

The country's e-commerce market is projected to grow from $90 billion in 2025 to $240 billion by 2030, according to the Korea International Trade Association.

India's quick commerce market is expected to expand even faster, growing more than sixfold from $8 billion to $50 billion during the same period.

“Entering India’s quick commerce market has become essential [for Korean food companies],” said a K-food industry source.

The country is increasingly viewed as a key future export market for K-food companies. The country has the world’s largest population at 1.4 billion, the world’s fifth-largest economy and a median age of just 28.8 years.

Anish Srivastava, chief business officer of Indian e-commerce platform Blinkit, left, and Jo Yong-chul, CEO of instant noodle maker Nongshim, shake hands after signing a distribution partnership on May 22. [NONGSHIM]

As global food companies intensify competition in India, demand for Korean food is also rising rapidly, particularly among younger consumers.

“K-food has become significantly more popular and mainstream in India over the past couple of years,” said Pallavi Dobhal, a 25-year-old from India who works at Nongshim's headquarters in Seoul. “Even local Indian food companies are launching products inspired by Korean flavors, making K-food one of the biggest trends in India’s food market.”

Nongshim’s exports to India grew at an average annual rate of 18.3 percent from 2023 to 2025, while Lotte Wellfood’s sales in the country rose 12.3 percent on year to 326.2 billion won last year.

Korean food companies are also strengthening localization strategies tailored to India’s culture, climate and diet.

Nongshim is currently selling a variation of its Shin Ramyun made with chicken broth, one of the most popular meats in India. The product also includes curry spices tailored to local tastes and is halal-certified.

A billboard advertisement for Lotte Wellfood's Dweji Bar ice cream in India [LOTTE WELLFOOD]

Lotte Wellfood manufactures products including Choco Pies, Pepero and World Cones in six factories across India. The company has also developed a chocolate formula designed to better withstand India’s hot and humid climate for its chocolate-based snacks.

The company also introduced a vegetarian version of the Choco Pie by replacing the animal-based gelatin typically used in marshmallows with plant-based ingredients.

Lotte Wellfood's crispy, cookie-coated ice cream bar, the Dweji Bar, which means "Pig Bar" in Korean, is marketed in India as “Krunch” to avoid references to pork that could conflict with local religious and cultural sensitivities.

Food conglomerate Orion also manufactures and sells its Choco Pie products at its factories in India.

“Food culture varies significantly across India, with wheat-based diets common in northern regions and rice-based diets more prevalent in southern and eastern regions,” said Kim Chan-wahn, a professor at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies . “K-food will gain more popularity if [food companies] take those regional differences into account.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY LIM SUN-YOUNG [[email protected]]