Indian Cuisine – a Global Phenomenon

Indian Cuisine - a Global Phenomenon

Indian food experienced unprecedented growth in popularity during the late 20th century - now one of the world's most popular types of cuisine. An early fusion of Eastern and Western cuisine forged an exciting and unique culinary path that would alter the future of the industry. This ‘curry-boom' established itself first in European countries such as Britain in the 1960s, before crossing the Atlantic towards the US. Figures reflect that there are now 8000 Indian Restaurants in Britain alone, with an annual turnover in excess of £2 billion (Lloyd, J & Mitchinson, J: "The Book of General Ignorance". Faber & Faber, 2006). Changes in immigration laws in the US quickly lead to a huge surge in the popularity of Indian food, with the majority of major cities now supporting a thriving restaurant community.
Indian food has also found a home in other sectors; most notably the retail market, where the demand for pre-packed Indian meals has grown steadily in recent times. The International Herald Tribune reported that by 2005, Britons were spending £900 million, or $1.5 billion, on ready-to-eat Indian food at supermarkets.
The growth of the market is reflected in success stories such as that of Gulam Noon, an Indian entrepreneur and Chairman of Noon Products, a company that grew to achieve an annual turnover in excess of £100 million. Noon's story is classic rags-to-riches. Having emigrated to Britain in his 20s, he established the company in 1989 - recognizing a gap in the market for authentic, pre-packaged Indian food. Noon's success was partly driven by his insistence on using fresh ingredients to achieve a more authentic taste - a practice virtually unheard of at the time. It is this kind of foresight and passion that has helped develop the market into the global concern it is today.

This success is reflected at home as well as abroad. After China, India is the second largest producer of food and beverages in the world today. Change in lifestyle of many young Indian professionals and families, coupled with higher incomes, has lead to a huge demand for convenience foods. This demand has given the industry a huge boost - an industry that continues to thrive, consistently producing increased profits.

The popularity of Indian exports can also be traced to the beverage sector - India is the world's leading producer of tea, exporting numerous world-renowned types of tea such as Assam, Chai and Darjeeling across the globe. Indian spices and pre-prepared sauces are now a staple of supermarkets across the globe, demonstrating how established Indian cuisine now is within the consciousness of the world's population.