Amazon India sees 15% growth in ready-to-eat meals, packaged foods amid LPG supply concerns

Amazon India has observed a significant uptick in consumer demand for ready-to-consume meal solutions amid rising LPG supply concerns due to the ongoing Middle East crisis.

"Over the past few weeks, we have seen consistent growth in demand for convenient, ready-to-consume meal solutions that require minimal cooking time. Categories such as instant noodles, packaged meals, snacks and beverages are seeing over 15 per cent growth on Amazon.in," an Amazon India spokesperson said.

High growth across meal categories

Categories such as instant noodles, packaged meals, snacks, and beverages are seeing over 15 per cent growth on Amazon.in. This growth, according to Amazon, is broad-based, spanning metros like Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai, as well as tier-2 and tier-3 cities such as Sonipat and Panaji.

Ultra-fast delivery driving immediate needs

The company observed that Amazon Now showed a 20 per cent month-to-month growth in demand for ready-to-eat and packaged food products, which occurred mainly in specific regions of Delhi-NCR, Mumbai and Bengaluru, where customers are increasingly relying on ultra-fast delivery for immediate needs.

Balanced consumer approach: Convenience and essentials

Amazon India noted sustained growth for its planned purchase categories, which include staples and oils, beverages, dry fruits and nuts, indicating a balanced consumer approach to both quick meals and essential stocking.

"We are also seeing sustained momentum in planned purchase categories like staples, oils, beverages and dry fruits & nuts, reflecting a balanced shift towards both convenience and essential stocking," the Amazon India spokesperson said.

Dedicated Ready-to-Eat store and AI assistance

To cater to these evolving preferences, Amazon.in established a dedicated ready-to-eat store which provides customers access to high-quality meal options, the company said. It's AI-powered shopping assistant, Rufus, helps customers find relevant products more easily and make confident purchase decisions..

Govt pushes for PNG adoption as LPG supply concerns rise

Meanwhile, the Centre, on Wednesday, urged households and businesses to switch to piped natural gas (PNG) wherever possible, highlighting it as a sustainable and reliable alternative to LPG.

To encourage adoption, states receive incentives that include an extra 10 per cent share of commercial gas resources, together with performance-based bonuses, which they will earn after successfully solving city gas distribution problems and completing their permit acquisition and excavation operations while decreasing local service costs.

Officials stated that the current fuel supply situation remains stable, but they have concerns about the LPG supply. The organisation will enhance its monitoring systems while implementing more stringent distribution rules to achieve efficient delivery of its products.

The government has requested consumers to refrain from panic purchasing cylinders, while they should use energy efficiently in their daily activities. The program provides urgent assistance to people who experience shortages of LPG.

Upcoming state plans require the development of specific methods which will enable them to switch from LPG to alternative energy sources while maintaining a continuous energy supply for all users.