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Godrej Yummiez, is known for its range of frozen ready-to-cook items under Godrej Tyson Foods Limited (GTFL), has introduced its latest creation: Yummiez Crispy Fried Chicken.

This new offering provides a snack that can be conveniently prepared at home in just five to seven minutes.

Additionally, the brand has also unveiled Yummiez Crispy Chicken Bites, which are bite-sized treats crafted from high-quality boneless chicken.

The introduction of Crispy Fried Chicken and Crispy Chicken Bites marks two fresh additions to Yummiez's non-vegetarian portfolio, following the recent launches of chicken sausage sachets, cocktail sausages, and prawns over the past year.

According to a 2022 report by the Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & Fisheries, chicken meat consumption in India averages around 3 kg per person annually.

The organized fried chicken market in India is estimated to be worth approximately INR 2000 crore, with a growth rate of 15-20% per year.

 “Factors such as the rising popularity of ready-to-cook and value-added chicken products are driving up chicken consumption. As India’s leading player in ready-to-cook frozen products category, Godrej Yummiez recognizes consumer preference for indulging in fried chicken out of home, steering clear of the kitchen complexities and its preparation at home. Sensing the potential and the absence of hassle-free home options, we proudly introduce a ready-to-cook format of fried chicken that is super crunchy, tasty and can be made within just five to seven minutes.” said Abhay Parnerkar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Godrej Tyson Foods Limited.

The Crispy Fried Chicken is packaged in a 425g bucket priced at INR 390, while the Crispy Chicken Bites come in a 360g bucket priced at INR 360.

These items are readily available across various retail channels including general trade, modern trade, and popular e-commerce platforms such as Zepto, Blinkit, and Swiggy Instamart.

Sumeru launched a new addition to its menu, the Rolls – a full meal on the go. A perfect solution for those untimely hunger pangs, Sumeru’s quick heat and eat rolls are available in two sumptuous variants of chicken and egg for those who love lean meat, and the protein-rich chunky Paneer variant for the vegetarians. Cooked in an aromatic blend of spices with the added nutritious benefit of fresh vegetables, these rolls make for a guilt-free indulgence and tasty lunchtime additions. Available in a convenient pack size of 280g and 240g, the Chicken and Egg and Paneer Rolls are priced at Rs. 160 and Rs. 120, respectively.

Talking about the newly launched rolls R&D Head Sivakumar K, Sumeru Frozen Foods, says, “We live in a time-poor world, our busy work schedules and on-the-move lifestyle hardly allows us any time for a nutritious meal. At Sumeru, we felt the need to address this issue and make a product that combines the taste of snack along with the goodness of a meal; this was the genesis, the roll.”

“Rolls have always been an all-time favourite snack with our consumers but making authentic rolls at home is not easy which is why people look at buying it outside. However, what clearly differentiates our product is the flavour and the quality of ingredients. Each roll is made from carefully sourced produce and then cooked to perfection along with fresh vegetables, flavoured with a secret combination of spices, wrapped in flaky golden brown parathas and frozen at its peak using the latest IQF technology to lock in the goodness and nutrition of the meal.” says in-house Chef Ravindranath Chatterjee, Sumeru.

Mithun Appaiah, CEO says “There is a growing demand for wholesome meal replacements that are low-prep and pre-packaged with little to no cleanup. This is why we launched the rolls range for our consumers. The new launch is also in continuation with our strategy to launch superior products customised to the Indian palette.”

Additionally to make festive cooking easier Sumeru has also introduced its most popular export product – the Grated Coconut to its home market. The Grated Coconut is available in a pack 200g priced at Rs 80. Each pack contains the yield of two coconuts.

Sumeru Frozen food, the 30-year-old heritage brand of Innovative Foods Limited, has launched its signature 'frozen gourmet meals' in collaboration with Michelin star chef Alfred Prasad.

The frozen food range consists of four products, namely millet khichadi, roasted chicken, shahi paneer and pepper chicken. Each of the products is made from locally-sourced ingredients, with no added flavours, colours or preservatives.

Mithun Appaiah, CEO of Innovative foods, said, "We want to disrupt the way consumers perceive and purchase frozen food. Our association with a renowned chef Alfred Prasad, a first in the country within this space reiterates our commitment to bring to consumers new and better experiences in consuming their daily food." 

Chef Alfred Prasad added, "The recipes follow my 3-H philosophy – Heritage, Health, and Happiness. This reflects in the ingredients we have chosen whether it is the usage of ancient grains of India like millets or following a healthier cooking process like roasting to unique packaging technology which ensures that nutrients and flavours are retained."

FMCG companies are experimenting with newer ready-to-eat products. They are expanding the range of frozen food products in an attempt to diversify and make themselves more appealing to consumers for whom elaborate cooking is not always an option and prefer a quick heat-and-eat style.

In the beginning, the frozen food industry was offering basic frozen vegetables and fries. But today, it provides a wide range of products, from fruits, vegetables and frozen meats to snacking and full meal options. 

Companies like Sumeru Foods, ITC and Amul are trying to convince consumers that frozen food is not less healthy than products that are touted as 'fresh'.

Mithun Appaiah, Chief Executive of Sumeru Foods, said, "The route for growth in this segment is to make customers think otherwise. The company has tied up with Alfred Prasad, the youngest Indian chef to get a Michelin star, to launch a range of products in chicken kebabs, paneer and French fries curated by him, under the Classiques brand. It has also launched parathas, not just the traditional onion and aloo ones, but also ajwain, methi and jeera parathas."

Last year, consumer goods behemoth ITC entered the frozen foods and snacks segment by selling frozen prawns under the MasterChef brand. The firm expanded the range of products to fried potatoes, chicken products, falafel, batata vada, pizza pockets, chicken keema patties.

Earlier this year, Amul entered this market with its Happy Treats brand. This brand provides six varieties in the frozen potato snacks category, which includes aloo tikki, french fries, potato wedges and veggie stix.