India’s frozen dessert and frozen yoghurt market is entering a new phase of growth as consumers increasingly look for products that combine indulgence with attributes such as protein, fibre, probiotics and lower fat, creating opportunities for both established brands and new entrants.
According to Sangeeta Nagar, Director, smöoy India, competition is expected to intensify across gelato, frozen yoghurt, protein-focused and health-oriented dessert formats as consumer preferences evolve. While nutritional considerations are becoming more important, taste continues to be the biggest factor influencing repeat purchases.
“There is a clear shift towards what we would describe as healthier indulgence,” Nagar said.
Smöoy is responding to the trend with products that are low in fat, high in fibre and gluten-free, along with its +protein yoghurt range. Rather than positioning desserts as health foods, the company aims to provide more considered choices without compromising the indulgent experience.
Food delivery and quick-commerce platforms are also changing how consumers discover and purchase frozen desserts. Their growing influence has increased the importance of portion sizes, packaging, presentation and products capable of maintaining their quality during delivery.
Beyond major metropolitan markets, smöoy sees considerable potential in tier-2 and tier-3 cities as familiarity with premium dessert concepts grows and cold-chain and quick-commerce infrastructure improves. Expansion into these markets, however, will require brands to adapt pricing, formats and flavours to local preferences.
Delhi has served as smöoy’s starting point in India, but the company plans to expand nationally. It is evaluating larger stores, kiosks and mobile units depending on individual markets and consumption occasions. Franchising is also expected to play an important role in its growth strategy.
Maintaining the cold chain will remain critical as the network expands. Nagar said temperature control directly influences frozen yoghurt texture and quality, making appropriate equipment, storage, supplier checks, employee training and standardised recipes essential.
Localisation and customisation will also form an important part of the company’s India strategy. Consumers can select toppings and create combinations according to individual preferences, while familiar regional flavours could be incorporated into contemporary frozen-yoghurt formats.
Smöoy’s wider portfolio includes smöoy Yoghurt, smöoy Cream, smöoy Rubik and smöoy Road, alongside waffles, crêpes and other dessert offerings.
Looking ahead, Nagar expects quality, distinctive flavours, personalisation and overall customer experience to become increasingly important as competition grows. Smöoy’s long-term objective is to make frozen yoghurt a more familiar choice within India’s expanding premium dessert market.