Finshots Daily How India quietly became a French fry powerhouse
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Sep 30, 2025 Explore how India transformed from a potato importer to a key player in the global processed potato market. Discover the role of major companies like McCain in revolutionizing potato processing. Learn about unique potato varieties tailored for fries and the infrastructure investments that boosted exports. Uncover the economic benefits for farmers through contract farming and how India now serves markets that once relied on Western suppliers. Dive into the standout contribution of Gujarat in this remarkable growth story.
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Rapid Export Surge
- India went from importing fries to exporting large volumes within a few years, driven by rising domestic demand and production.
- Frozen potato exports jumped from ₹217 crore to ₹1,817 crore in five years, showing rapid scaling.
Huge Domestic Production Base
- India now produces around 60 million tons of potatoes annually, second only to China.
- This production base underpins the country's emergence as a major supplier of processed potato products.
McCain Sparked The Market
- McCain entered India in 1998 with R&D and later set up a processing plant in 2017, catalysing the frozen-fries market.
- McCain became the exclusive supplier to McDonald's in India, accelerating demand for processed fries.