India emerges as major global supplier of French Fries in just 10 years

India has emerged as a major exporter of French Fries in the global market in less than a decade with Gujarat playing a catalyst in turning the country from an importer to one of the largest exporter of frozen potato products.

Although Gujarat harvests a mere 7.42% of the country's potato production, Food Processing companies like McCain Foods, Iscon Balaji Foods and HyFun Foods produce frozen potato products which constitute the major chunk of the export.

These companies also cater to the domestic demand supplying the products to fast food chains such as McDonalds, Subway, Burger King, Wendy's, KFC, and Domino's.

Currently, HyFun Foods, which started in 2015, exports to more than 40 countries including the US, Canada, Japan and countries in the Middle East and South Asia.

In 2007, India imported more than 6,000 metric tons of French Fries, but in FY 2022-23, the frozen potato products export reached 67,700 metric tons whose major part was French Fries.

Companies like HyFun Foods engage in contractual farming where farmers from northern Gujarat are enlisted for contract farming of Santana and Frysona varieties of potatoes which are ideally used for French Fries. The method helps in more production and increased profit for the farmers.

While the Indian frozen potato products market reached $ 1.6 billion in 2023, it is expected to reach $4 billion by 2032 at a compounding annual growth rate of 10.72 %.