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Curries & retort mealsFrozen ready meals & appetizersInstant mixesMeal kitsSoupsSnacksSweets & dessertsChutneys, pickles & condimentsMillet-based health foodsBakeryFrozen fruitFrozen dessertsCanned & ambient fruitBeverages & drinksIndo-Chinese crossoverPlant-based & meat alternativesHS codesFAQs
Overview

India supplies ready-to-eat and ready-to-drink food across four distinct formats: frozen (18–24 month cold-chain shelf life), retort pouch (12–18 months shelf-stable at room temperature, no cold chain needed), instant/ambient mixes, and canned or bottled goods. This page pulls every item we track as genuinely ready-to-eat — from butter chicken and chicken tikka masala to mango chutney, gulab jamun, and tender coconut water — into one catalog, regardless of which product category it's normally filed under on this site.

Every item here links through to its category page for sourcing depth — cut/format specs, HS codes, and buyer FAQs specific to that product. Use this page to see the full breadth of what's available, then submit a sourcing brief for the specific products and quantities you need.

Looking for a specific product, or a mixed assortment across categories? Tell us what you need — we'll match you with verified Indian exporters directly.

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HS codes for RTE/RTC products

HS headingDescriptionExamples
1901 / 2106Food preparations, multi-ingredientFrozen biryani, curries, ready meals
2106.90Food preparations not elsewhere specifiedInstant mixes, spice kits, chaat kits
2005Other vegetables prepared or preserved, not frozenRetort vegetable curries
1601 / 1602Prepared or preserved meatMeat-based retort curries, kebabs
0811Fruit, uncooked or steamed, frozenIQF mango, pineapple, guava, litchi
2008Fruit otherwise prepared or preservedCanned mango slices, pineapple, jackfruit, litchi
2009Fruit and vegetable juicesMango juice, guava nectar, tender coconut water
2008.19Other nuts, seeds, and prepared snacksNamkeen, khakhra, trail mix
1704 / 1806Sugar confectionery / chocolate preparationsGulab jamun, rasgulla, milk sweets
HS classification depends on the exact product form, processing, and packaging — treat this as a starting point, not a customs ruling. Confirm the exact heading with your exporter and customs broker before filing.

Market data

$1.44B
India's RTE food export value, 2022–23
13.4%
CAGR of India's RTE exports, 2018–19 to 2022–23
12–18 months
Typical shelf life of a retort pouch meal at room temperature

Buyer FAQs

What's the difference between frozen, retort, and instant RTE formats?

Frozen requires an unbroken cold chain from plant to destination and typically holds 18–24 months. Retort pouch is shelf-stable at room temperature for 12–18 months, sterilized in the sealed pouch. Instant mixes are ambient dry products the end consumer rehydrates or cooks briefly. Each has different logistics and packaging implications — worth specifying which format you need per product in your sourcing brief.

Can I source a mixed assortment across categories in one order?

Yes — many exporters and consolidators can bundle a mixed container spanning frozen, retort, and ambient products, though mixed cold-chain and ambient goods in a single shipment need careful packing. Worth flagging a multi-category order explicitly so we can match you with an exporter or consolidator set up for it.

What certifications should I ask for across this catalog?

FSSAI license and APEDA registration are baseline across every category here. HACCP or ISO 22000 are standard for export-focused manufacturers. BRCGS is increasingly requested by UK and EU retail buyers, and Halal certification is common for Middle East markets.

Is private label available across the whole range?

Most established exporters in every category here offer private label, typically with a 2–4 week artwork lead time. MOQs for private label can run higher than an exporter's standard branded SKU, since packaging can't be shared across customers.

What's a typical first-order MOQ across such a broad catalog?

It varies a lot by format: frozen products commonly run 3–10 MT per SKU, while snacks, namkeen, and pickles often accept trial orders from a few hundred kilograms. Confirm MOQ per product in your sourcing brief rather than assuming one number across the whole catalog.

Ready to source ready-to-eat food from India?

Submit a sourcing brief with your products, formats, and quantities — our team matches you with verified exporters privately, no browsing required.

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