Millet Based Packaged Food Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, Segmented By Product Type (Dosa & Idli Premix, Waffle & Pancake Premix, Instant Upma, RTE Noodles, Multigrain Flour, Protein Rich Bars, Others), By Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets/Supermarkets, Convenience Stores, Online, Others), By Region, By Competition, 2021-2031F

Forecast Period	2027-2031
Market Size (2025)	USD 44.39 Million
CAGR (2026-2031)	9.31%
Fastest Growing Segment	Online
Largest Market	North America
Market Size (2031)	USD 75.73 Million

Market Overview

The Global Millet Based Packaged Food Market will grow from USD 44.39 Million in 2025 to USD 75.73 Million by 2031 at a 9.31% CAGR. Millet-based packaged foods are value-added consumables, such as bakery products, pasta, and ready-to-eat snacks, formulated using nutrient-dense grains like sorghum and pearl millet as primary ingredients. The market is witnessing robust growth driven by the rising global preference for gluten-free and low-glycemic dietary options, alongside government initiatives promoting sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture. According to the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics, in 2024, annual global millet consumption was estimated at approximately 30 million tonnes, highlighting the substantial existing consumer base for these ancient grains.

However, the industry faces a significant hurdle regarding supply chain logistics and processing efficiency, which restricts the scalability of mass-market production. The fragmentation of raw material sourcing often leads to inconsistent quality and higher operational costs, creating a barrier for manufacturers aiming to achieve price parity with conventional staple foods in the global retail sector.

Key Market Drivers

Strategic government initiatives and policy support are fundamentally reshaping the supply dynamics of the global millet-based packaged food market. Governments, particularly in leading producer nations, are implementing production-linked incentives and procurement schemes to position millets as a climate-resilient staple, directly addressing raw material stability for food processors. This legislative push has translated into tangible agricultural output, ensuring a steady feedstock for value-added manufacturing. According to the Press Information Bureau, August 2025, India achieved a total millet production of 180.15 lakh tonnes in the 2024-25 period, underscoring the scale of state-backed cultivation efforts. This surplus is increasingly directed toward international trade to meet overseas demand for functional foods. Consequently, according to the same source, in 2025, India exported a total of 89,164 tonnes of millets, validating the effectiveness of policy in bridging local agriculture with global retail supply chains.

Adoption of millets by major food corporations for product diversification is acting as a critical catalyst for mainstream consumer acceptance. Large-scale FMCG conglomerates are aggressively entering the segment by reformulating conventional snacks, breakfast cereals, and bakery items with millet ingredients to appeal to health-conscious demographics without compromising on taste or convenience. This corporate pivot validates the category, moving it from a niche health food segment to mass-market retail shelves through extensive distribution prowess. For instance, according to ET Retail, August 2025, Tata Soulfull, a key player in the segment, reported over 35% revenue growth in the fiscal year 2025, driven largely by the expansion of its millet-based product portfolio into quick commerce and modern trade channels. Such robust performance by industry leaders incentivizes further innovation and competition, thereby expanding the overall market size.

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Key Market Challenges

Inefficiencies in supply chain logistics and processing capabilities constitute a primary restriction on the expansion of the Global Millet Based Packaged Food Market. The industry is heavily fragmented regarding raw material sourcing, which creates significant difficulties for manufacturers attempting to secure a consistent volume of high-quality grains. This fragmentation necessitates sourcing from numerous smallholder farmers, driving up aggregation and transportation costs. Consequently, manufacturers face elevated operational expenses that prevent them from achieving price parity with established staples like wheat and rice, limiting the appeal of millet products to price-sensitive consumers.

This logistical complexity directly impacts the scalability of production required for global retail distribution. The lack of streamlined processing infrastructure means that supply cannot easily adjust to meet surging industrial demand. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, in 2023, the global average yield for millet crops was recorded at roughly 1.2 tonnes per hectare. This low agricultural productivity exacerbates the sourcing challenge, as manufacturers must maintain extensive and complex collection networks to gather sufficient raw material for mass-market packaged food production.

Key Market Trends

Proliferation of Extruded and Popped Millet Snacking Formats is rapidly altering consumer consumption patterns, moving the category beyond traditional porridge and flatbreads into the modern convenience sector. Manufacturers are increasingly utilizing advanced extrusion technologies to process nutrient-dense grains like sorghum and ragi into contemporary textures, such as puffs, flakes, and savory crispies, which appeal to younger demographics prioritizing taste alongside health. This format innovation directly addresses the palatability barrier that previously hindered mass adoption, allowing millet brands to compete directly with conventional corn and rice-based snacks in the impulse purchase aisle. The commercial success of this strategy is evident in the trajectory of category leaders; according to Inc42, January 2025, in the 'Gunning For ₹500 Cr, Selling Millets' article, Wholsum Foods projected a revenue of INR 168 crore for the fiscal year 2025, driven largely by its expanded portfolio of kid-friendly, value-added snacking products.

Surge in Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Channels for Niche Millet Startups is simultaneously democratizing market access, enabling micro-enterprises to bypass the high entry barriers of traditional retail distribution. By leveraging digital platforms and hyperlocal delivery networks, agile startups are cultivating dedicated communities and gathering real-time consumer feedback to iterate products faster than legacy players. This ecosystem is being aggressively bolstered by state-level infrastructure support designed to decentralize processing capabilities and empower small-scale manufacturers. According to the Press Information Bureau, August 2025, in the 'Empowering India through Millets' release, the government allocated ₹2,000 crore for the 2025-26 period under the PM-FME scheme to specifically support micro food processing enterprises, providing the critical capital required for these niche brands to scale their operations and logistical reach.

Segmental Insights

The online distribution segment currently registers as the fastest-growing category within the global millet-based packaged food market, primarily driven by the convenience of e-commerce and rising internet penetration. Digital platforms provide consumers with access to a diverse range of niche millet products, such as gluten-free bakery items and ready-to-cook meals, which often face shelf-space constraints in traditional physical retail. Furthermore, manufacturers are increasingly leveraging direct-to-consumer channels to capitalize on the heightened health awareness promoted by international agricultural organizations, thereby facilitating broader market reach and accelerating sales through virtual marketplaces.

Regional Insights

North America holds a dominant position in the Global Millet Based Packaged Food Market, primarily driven by the rising consumer demand for gluten-free and plant-based dietary options. The region benefits from a well-established retail infrastructure and a growing preference for convenient, nutrient-dense products like breakfast cereals and baked goods. Furthermore, initiatives by the United States Department of Agriculture promoting the consumption of whole grains encourage manufacturers to incorporate ancient grains into processed foods. This focus on healthy, value-added food products secures the region's leadership in the global market.

Recent Developments

• In October 2024, Troo Good, a prominent millet-based snack brand, secured $9 million in a fresh funding round to fuel its growth and innovation strategies. The company announced plans to utilize this capital to upgrade its manufacturing infrastructure and drive the research and development of new millet-based packaged products. This significant investment highlighted the robust investor confidence in the expanding market for healthy, affordable millet snacks. The funds were also allocated to strengthen the brand's distribution network, enabling it to reach a broader consumer base and further solidify its position in the competitive healthy snacking segment.
• In August 2024, Bühler India entered into a strategic collaboration with Nutrihub, a technology business incubator hosted by the Indian Institute of Millet Research (IIMR). This partnership was established to conduct breakthrough research and advance industrial processing technologies for millets, addressing critical challenges such as shelf-life extension and flour quality enhancement. By combining Bühler’s technical expertise in grain processing with Nutrihub’s scientific knowledge, the alliance aimed to optimize grinding methods and increase processing yields. This cooperation was designed to improve the texture and culinary application of millet-based packaged foods, thereby facilitating their wider adoption and commercial success in the global food industry.
• In June 2024, Unilever, in collaboration with the Farm to Market Alliance and the University of Nairobi, announced the results of 'The Great Millet Quest', an innovation competition focused on product development. This partnership engaged university students to research and create sustainable, market-ready millet-based packaged foods. The initiative successfully identified breakthrough concepts, such as probiotic-infused millet crackers and millet noodles, which highlighted the grain's commercial versatility. This collaborative effort underscored the company's commitment to fostering agricultural innovation and supporting the development of climate-resilient food products that address nutritional needs while promoting value-added utilization of millets in the consumer market.
• In January 2024, Tata Consumer Products expanded its global footprint by launching its 'Tata Soulfull' range of millet-based products in the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait. This strategic market entry introduced a variety of nutritious snacks and breakfast cereals, such as Ragi Bites and Millet Muesli, to consumers across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. The initiative aligned with the company’s broader objective to popularize traditional Indian millets as contemporary, convenient food options in international markets. By making these wellness-focused packaged foods available in major retail outlets, the company aimed to cater to the growing demand for healthy, better-for-you snacking alternatives in the Middle East.

Key Market Players

• General Mills, Inc.
• Nestlé S.A.
• The Kraft Heinz Company
• The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
• Suntory Holdings Limited
• Cargill, Incorporated
• PepsiCo, Inc.
• Danone S.A.
• Kellanova
• The Hershey Company

By Product Type	By Distribution Channel	By Region
Dosa & Idli Premix Waffle & Pancake Premix Instant Upma RTE Noodles Multigrain Flour Protein Rich Bars Others	Hypermarkets/Supermarkets Convenience Stores Online Others	North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa

Report Scope:

In this report, the Global Millet Based Packaged Food Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below:

• Millet Based Packaged Food Market, By Product Type:

• Dosa & Idli Premix
• Waffle & Pancake Premix
• Instant Upma
• RTE Noodles
• Multigrain Flour
• Protein Rich Bars
• Others

• Millet Based Packaged Food Market, By Distribution Channel:

• Hypermarkets/Supermarkets
• Convenience Stores
• Online
• Others

• Millet Based Packaged Food Market, By Region:

• North America
• United States
• Canada
• Mexico
• Europe
• France
• United Kingdom
• Italy
• Germany
• Spain
• Asia Pacific
• China
• India
• Japan
• Australia
• South Korea
• South America
• Brazil
• Argentina
• Colombia
• Middle East & Africa
• South Africa
• Saudi Arabia
• UAE