#676 From Zero To 400,000 Tonnes The Epic Comeback Of Maggi Noodles | Govindraj Ethiraj | The Core Report

From zero to a powerhouse again, this is the inside story of Maggi noodles in India. Former Nestlé India chief Suresh Narayanan shares how a beloved brand fell, rebuilt trust, and scaled to about 400,000 tonnes a year.

We explore GST rate cuts, inflation pressure on middle India, premiumization, digital first marketing, e commerce distribution, and what it takes to spark consumer love in a crowded market.

If you care about brand turnarounds, manufacturing scale, and the future of FMCG in India, this conversation delivers playbook level insights with real numbers and hard lessons.

What you will learn

• How Maggi rebuilt trust and demand after a national crisis

• Why GST cuts can unlock consumption and improve FMCG margins

• How premiumization and Gen Z tastes reshape noodles and coffee

• Nescafe growth, out of home to in home flywheel, where Nespresso fits

• Data versus gut in pricing, media spend, and channel strategy

• How legacy brands counter 400 local challengers with speed and relevance

• First principles for brand managers in an AI and marketplace world

Timestamps:

(00:00) – Introduction1.35 – What do GST rate cuts mean for daily consumption?

(03:00) – How has inflation shifted spending from discretionary to essentials?

(04:55) – Which has hit harder—input price rise or household budget pressures?

(06:55) – How are today’s spending pressures different from earlier cycles?

(09:05) – How has the Indian consumer evolved over the last 35 years?

(14:00) – What has changed in Nestlé’s brands and their connection with consumers?

(16:15) – Do enduring brands suggest unchanging consumer desires?

(18:40) – How has out-of-home coffee culture impacted Nescafé?

(23:04) – How does Maggi respond to rising regional competition?

(28:31) – How do you advertise to Gen Z and Gen Alpha consumers?

(36:55) – What guiding principles should young brand managers follow today?

(39:10) – Closing remarksWatch for practical takeaways you can use this quarter. Like and subscribe if you want deeper dives on India business, tech, and manufacturing stories.