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Vitafoods India 2026 opens in Mumbai, showcasing India’s science-led nutraceutical growth
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Thursday, 12 February, 2026, 15 : 00 PM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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The fourth edition of Vitafoods India opened at the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC), Mumbai, bringing together over 10,000 trade visitors and more than 200 global exhibitors from across the nutraceutical, functional food, beverage and dietary supplement value chain. Running from February 11–13, 2026, the event reflects the accelerating momentum of India’s preventive healthcare and wellness industry.
Anchored on the theme ‘Nutri-Critical 2030: Science, Standards and Scale for India’s Global Significance’, the three-day conference features 19 knowledge sessions led by over 40 industry experts. Key focus areas include regulation, labelling and compliance, innovation, personalised nutrition, healthy ageing, women-centric nutrition, microbiome science, protein adequacy and sustainable nutrition models.
India’s nutraceutical growth is being driven by demographic and lifestyle tailwinds. With the elderly population projected to reach 347 million by 2050, demand for clean-label, functional foods supporting energy, cognition and metabolic health is rising. Expanding middle-class consumption and increased awareness of lifestyle disorders are further accelerating science-backed nutrition adoption.
Pritee Chaudhary, IRS, Regional Director, FSSAI, West Region, Mumbai, said, “India’s nutraceutical industry is closely aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 and represents a strategic pillar for nation-building. Currently representing nearly 2% of the global market, the sector’s long-term potential could surpass pharmaceuticals by at least tenfold, given nutraceuticals’ role in daily preventive healthcare through health supplements, probiotics, and prebiotics. India leverages its strong pharmaceutical expertise, a consultative FSSAI regulatory framework, and a growing manufacturing base in hubs like Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh. With over 60-70 FTAs in place with key markets such as the UK, EU, USA, Mauritius, UAE, and Australia, coupled with rising emphasis on research, molecule development, and scientific validation, the industry is poised to scale responsibly and lead globally over the next five years.”
Kaushik Desai, Secretary General, Health Foods and Dietary Supplements Association (HADSA), said, “The global nutraceutical industry is projected to reach USD 919 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7% across functional foods, dietary supplements and personalised nutrition. As the market expands, stronger collaboration between FSSAI and industry is vital to ensure safety, quality, and regulatory compliance, alongside greater emphasis on clinically validated, evidence-based products to reinforce consumer trust. Rising demand for sustainable, plant-based and clean-label solutions, coupled with the growth of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer channels, is accelerating innovation. India’s biodiversity and traditional medicine heritage provide a strong foundation for globally competitive offerings, and with focused investment in research, innovation and compliance, the sector can significantly advance preventive healthcare access."
Highlighting developments in botanicals, Hitesh Patel, managing director, K Patel Phytoextraction Pvt Ltd, stated, “The botanical ingredients sector in India is growing through structured cultivation, farmer partnerships, sustainable and organic practices, and strict compliance with Japanese, European, and American regulatory standards. Although an earlier 50% American tariff created temporary pressure, the revised 18% rate is expected to stabilise volumes in the coming months, while European supplies remain steady. The industry has evolved from traditional ratio-based Ayurveda formulations to standardised extracts validated through HPLC and GC, and it is now advancing toward clinically researched, scientifically validated ingredients. Platforms like Vitafoods India reflect this transformation and strengthen India’s global positioning.”
Sandeep Gupta, founder & director of the Expert Nutraceutical Advocacy Council (ENAC) said, “India’s nutraceutical sector is at a defining stage of growth. While our share in the global market remains modest, the country possesses strong manufacturing capabilities, rich biodiversity and deep expertise in natural ingredients and phyto extracts that position us for far greater global relevance. The priority now is deeper collaboration across industry, academia and government to strengthen quality, innovation and domestic value creation. By bringing together industry leaders and policymakers to address opportunities and regulatory pathways, we can chart a structured roadmap for sustainable and credible growth.”
Yogesh Mudras, managing director, Informa Markets in India, said, “India is entering a decisive decade where nutrition will define the country’s health and productivity outcomes. As per capita disposable income is projected to approach INR 2.5 lakh by 2030, consumers are consciously investing in preventive health, personalised nutrition, and everyday wellness. This shift is being reinforced by national initiatives such as the National Nutrition Strategy and a steadily evolving regulatory ecosystem under FSSAI, creating a strong foundation for responsible industry growth. In this context, Vitafoods India 2025–2026 emerges as more than an exhibition. It is a vision platform where science, policy, and innovation align to enable the nutraceutical sector to move from intent to impact and from domestic growth to global leadership.”
From the industry side, Arushi Jain, Akums Drugs & Pharmaceuticals Ltd., stated, “India’s nutraceutical and Ayurvedic products market is surging, fueled by rising health awareness and a shift toward preventive healthcare. This growth is amplified by increasing incidences of lifestyle diseases, deep-rooted trust in Ayurveda, digital accessibility, and evolving FSSAI and AYUSH regulations. The sector is projected to grow at a 13.6% CAGR to reach USD 64.83 billion, while Ayurvedic products are set to expand even faster at 18.4% CAGR to USD 22.37 billion by 2030. Trends like plant-based, clean-label formulations, innovative formats such as gummies and functional beverages, and personalised nutrition are gaining strong traction, particularly among younger urban consumers who weave nutraceuticals into their daily wellness routines.”
Puunam G. Kaushik, deputy managing director and chief corporate affairs, Meteoric Biopharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., stated, “The Government of India has allocated INR 10,000 crore for the biopharmaceutical industry, to be deployed over five years from 2026 to 2031, creating a significant opportunity for companies to scale innovation and capacity. In parallel, the nutraceutical sector is poised for strong expansion, particularly in the Asia Pacific and India, as the global shift toward preventive healthcare has accelerated post COVID. The market is expected to grow at least threefold over the next five years, driven by rising focus on immunity, nutrition and wellness. At Vitafoods India, the emphasis is on next-generation food ingredients and nutraceutical solutions, including prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and emerging postbiotics, along with clinically validated offerings in kidney health, women’s health and gut health, and advancing research in the gut skin microbiome.”
Gaurav Soni and Madhu Krishnamani, founders and managing directors, Botanic Healthcare, said, “At Botanic Healthcare, we develop science-led nutraceutical solutions that combine traditional herbal knowledge with modern delivery technologies to support preventive and lifestyle-led nutrition. As demand rises for clinically validated, high-bioavailability solutions across metabolic health, immunity, skin and vision care, our portfolio reflects a clear shift toward outcome-driven innovation. Women’s wellness remains a key focus area, and at Vitafoods India 2026, we are launching Aspariva, a standardized Shatavari extract developed to support women’s health through evidence-based formulation. India’s nutraceutical market is entering a strong growth phase and is projected to reach nearly USD 60 billion by 2030. Supported by a ?250 crore equity investment and the commissioning of our dedicated liposomal manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, we continue to strengthen innovation, clinical validation and global expansion.”
Dr. Benny Antony, joint managing director, Arjuna Natural Pvt. Ltd., said, “With India’s nutraceutical sector projected to grow from USD 8–9 billion to USD 20–30 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 15–18%, the industry is clearly shifting from general wellness to targeted, clinically supported health solutions. Growth is being driven by rising demand for healthy ageing, metabolic balance, mental wellness, stress resilience, and performance nutrition. In line with these trends, Arjuna Natural is showcasing patented botanical ingredients at the Vitafoods India 2026, including high-bioavailability turmeric, potent ashwagandha, omega-supporting amla extracts, nitrate-rich endurance actives, and cognitive botanicals. Together, these ingredients reflect the growing need for clinically validated, plant-based solutions that strengthen formulation quality and support the next phase of India’s nutraceutical value chain.”
A major addition to this edition is the Leaders Roundtable, a closed-door strategic forum developed with ENAC to enable structured dialogue among senior professionals across R&D, regulatory affairs, scientific research, certification and policy advocacy.
With strong institutional backing from HADSA, AFSTI (Mumbai), CASMB and Women in Nutraceuticals (WIN), Vitafoods India 2026 continues to strengthen its position as a critical platform shaping the future trajectory of India’s nutraceutical and preventive healthcare industry.
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