PepsiCo India has expanded its Quaker portfolio in the country with the launch of Protein Ladooz and Chikki Bites, riding on the protein wave as consumers seek healthier food options in convenient formats. This is also in line with the company’s focus to strengthen its better-for-you food portfolio.
Saakshi Verma Menon, Chief Marketing Officer – Foods, PepsiCo India told businessline, “This strategy enables us to take brand Quaker to new consumption occasions. As this marks the brand’s move beyond breakfast consumption occasion into snacking in India. The innovation takes two familiar Indian favourites — ladoo and chikki — and brings in the goodness of oats, protein and fibre, making it easier to add nutrition across more snacking occasions. Our India R&D team enabled us to crack these innovations.”
Priced at ₹10 per pack, Quaker Protein Ladooz and Protein Chikki Bites, will also strengthen PepsiCo India’s better-for-you foods portfolio with an offering designed around familiarity, nutrition and accessibility, she added.
“Better- for-you products and categories are witnessing an uptick in India and focus on protein and fibre is a key emerging trend in the country. Indian consumers are increasingly paying attention to nutrition, but awareness does not always translate into dietary choices and they are looking at options that can make nutrition more practical and accessible,” Menon added.
India’s oats, muesli and porridge categories have grown rapidly in the past two years, with oats penetration in urban households being on the rise. A recent research report by Redseer indicated that 80 per cent of Gen Z find protein-intake as non-negotiable.
As part of its focus on ingredient transparency, earlier this year the company updated packaging of its foods portfolio focusing that the products are made without artificial colours and flavours.