World Food India 2025 (WFI), held from September 25 to 28 in New Delhi, emerged as a powerful catalyst for India’s growing food processing economy, spotlighting stories of grassroots entrepreneurship alongside large-scale international partnerships. This year’s edition placed strong emphasis on enabling startups and small enterprises to scale globally, positioning India not only as the world’s largest producer of milk, onions, and pulses but also as a fast-emerging leader in processed food exports valued at USD 49.4 billion in 2024–25.

Among the highlights was the journey of Dilli Creamery, founded in 2024 by Delhi-based entrepreneur Devinder Singh with just 20 litres of milk a day. Built on the foundation of purity and traditional Punjabi flavours, the brand grew steadily through support from FSSAI registration and government schemes for small processors. Today, Dilli Creamery manufactures 300–350 litres of milk, 20–25 kilograms of paneer, and 40–50 kilograms of sweets daily. Its presence at WFI 2025, within the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying pavilion, attracted global buyers drawn to its authentic dairy offerings, signalling the rising demand for regional Indian brands on international platforms.

A similar narrative of grassroots transformation was seen in the journey of FT-MBA Makhana Wala from Darbhanga, Bihar. Founded in 2019 by engineer-turned-entrepreneur Shravan K. Roy with minimal resources, the brand initially processed only 100–150 kilograms of makhana per month. With support from Startup India, Startup Bihar, B-HUB incubation, MSME subsidies, APEDA export assistance, and GST reforms, the company expanded its footprint beyond Bihar to major metros including Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore. Today, FT-MBA Makhana Wala processes 4–6 tonnes monthly, offering flavoured and premium variants for export. As a G.I. (Geographical Indicator) Authorized User, the brand proudly represents the heritage of Mithila. At WFI 2025, Roy stood not only as a business owner but as a voice for thousands of makhana farmers across the region.

International participation also reflected growing confidence in India’s food processing landscape. Nadi Food, a German company that had attended previous editions as visitors, participated this year as an exhibitor. The company commended the event’s large-scale execution and the strong interest from Indian buyers, indicating plans to explore operations in India.

Across four days, World Food India 2025 facilitated large-scale investments and global collaborations. A total of 26 leading Indian and global companies signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth ₹1,02,046.89 crore, marking one of the largest investment commitments in India’s food processing sector. These agreements, facilitated by Invest India, are expected to generate over 64,000 direct jobs and benefit more than 10 lakh people indirectly. Major participants included Reliance, Coca-Cola, Amul, Nestlé, and Tata Consumer Products, covering segments such as dairy, beverages, packaged foods, and ready-to-eat products across 18 states.

The event hosted over 10,500 B2B meetings, 261 government-to-government sessions, and 18,000 reverse buyer-seller interactions, offering structured pathways for partnerships, exports, and joint ventures. Dedicated zones such as the Great Indian Food Street and innovation showcases enabled startups to present regional delicacies, new flavours, and cutting-edge solutions in packaging, cold storage, and preservation technologies, attracting buyers, investors, and collaborators from across the globe.

World Food India 2025 reaffirmed India's position as a powerhouse of food innovation — where tradition meets technology, small-scale entrepreneurship meets global markets, and local flavours find international acclaim.