This year, Nestle India released a number of new products featuring millets as a significant component in an effort to improve consumer acceptability and awareness through familiar product forms while also coinciding with the Indian government’s International Year of Millets campaign. The company’s local R&D unit has collaborated with the Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR) to improve the millet supply chain and innovate.
Nestle India has developed numerous new millet-based product innovations ranging from porridge to instant noodle categories as of November 2023, merging these into well-known brands such as Koko Krunch and MAGGI. Millets are tied with India’s agricultural past, and with 2023 designated as the International Year of Millets, it is only fitting that this be highlighted with more relevant product developments.
Nestle India Managing Director Suresh Narayanan addressed the media, saying, “Our ambition is to incorporate millets into more relevant product categories; we have a lot of work done here in the breakfast category, including Nestlé CEREGROW Grain Selection with ragi, Milo Cocoa Malt with bajra, and Nestlé Koko Krunch MilletJowar breakfast cereals.” Ragi, bajra, and jowar are all millet grain varieties. Two of the most recent millet developments are in categories that Indian customers are familiar with: porridge and instant noodles.”
“Maggi noodles are consumed by nearly two-thirds of Indian households, and we are confident that this brand will help to mainstream millets in India,” said Nestle India Director of Foods Business Rajat Jain. “This new offering is part of the Maggi Oats Noodles with Millet Magic range, which is a sub-brand of Maggi Oats Noodles – it contains a combination of two millets, namely sorghum (jowar) and finger millet (ragi), as well as oats, which uses masala flavours to elevate enjoyment.”
“This combination of oats with Indian Millets also offers consumers a product which is a source of fibre and protein, and is in line with Maggi’s commitment to provide consumers with diverse options by recalibrating innovations.” The new Nestle a+ spice Millet cereal items, on the other hand, include pearl millet (bajra) and come in tomato and spice tastes. On-pack, all goods in this line will bear the IIMR endorsement logo.
“The a+ Masala millet porridges are tailored to local nutritional needs and tastes [as they are] made with a blend of locally sourced ingredients including bajra, barley, vegetables, and a variety of 10 spices,” the head of Nestle India’s research and development centre, Jagdeep Marahar cited.
“These are also high in fibre, free of preservatives, and contain 30% fewer calories compared to commonly consumed cereal-based breakfast recipes.” Maggi Oats Noodles with Millet Magic costs Rs.175 for four servings, whereas a+ Masala Millet costs Rs.175 for a multi-serve 240g pack or Rs.30 for a single-serve 40g pack. Both collections will be available in major retailers across the country. Nestle also revealed that it is looking for start-ups to collaborate with in order to use millets in more product formats.
“We are exploring innovation opportunities with start-ups while partnering with local research institutions to encourage the utilisation of millets in different types of food and beverage products,” she said.
“The a+ Masala millet porridges for example were initially developed at our R+D Accelerator which acts as a regional platform for students, start-ups, and employees to go from idea to shop test in only a few months through leveraging Nestlé’s extensive food and beverage innovation expertise and infrastructure.”