An intense heatwave sweeping across north India has triggered a sharp rise in sales of summer-centric products such as ice creams, cold beverages, dairy drinks, and colas, with quick commerce platforms emerging as a major growth driver for FMCG companies.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), heatwave conditions are expected to persist across several northern states this week, with severe heatwave alerts issued for parts of Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi.
The soaring temperatures have significantly boosted demand for cooling products, particularly through rapid-delivery platforms where consumers are increasingly placing impulse purchases for ice creams, cold coffees, beverages, and even sunscreen products.
Mother Dairy said ice cream volumes on quick commerce platforms have more than doubled over the last 10 days compared to the previous 10-day period, while fresh dairy product sales have risen by over 30%.
Jayatheertha Chary, managing director of Mother Dairy, said the company is witnessing strong traction across categories including ice creams, dairy beverages, and fresh dairy products, prompting it to revise seasonal demand projections upward.
At Amul, ice cream sales have reportedly jumped by nearly 50% this season as consumers increasingly turn to frozen desserts and cold beverages to cope with extreme temperatures.
Jayen Mehta, managing director of Amul, said products such as kulfis, cold coffees, and beverages are recording strong double-digit growth, especially on direct-to-home and quick commerce channels.
The beverage category is also witnessing accelerated demand growth. Coca-Cola said innovation-led offerings such as Powerade sports drinks, RimZim Rose Sharbat, and the expanding Schweppes sparkling water range are helping drive consumer interest during the summer season.
Meanwhile, Chandigarh-based Archian Foods, which markets Lahori Zeera, said robust summer demand has strengthened growth expectations for the year, aided by its affordable ₹10 pricing strategy.
The heatwave is also boosting beer consumption and demand for other ready-to-drink cold beverages as consumers increasingly shift toward immediate relief and convenience-led purchases.
However, while low-cost, high-frequency summer products are witnessing strong momentum, demand for higher-ticket consumer durables such as air-conditioners and refrigerators has remained below expectations despite the extreme weather. Industry reports suggest recent price hikes of 8–10% in appliance categories have impacted consumer purchasing decisions.
Industry executives say the season has further highlighted the growing role of quick commerce in India’s FMCG ecosystem, with platforms enabling faster replenishment of temperature-sensitive and impulse-driven products during peak summer demand periods.