Indian Foods Group (IFG), one of Australia’s leading importers and distributors of Indian and South Asian food brands, has announced a major strategic partnership with Haldiram’s Foods and the Nippon Group to expand into manufacturing and mainstream markets across Spain and Europe.
The move marks a significant evolution for IFG, transitioning from Australian market leadership to a strategic global growth partner within the snacks food category.
A strategic gateway to Europe
The partnership brings together three complementary strengths. Haldiram’s Foods is a global manufacturing powerhouse with scale and international reach. The Nippon Group provides deep local market knowledge and established commercial networks across Spain and Europe. Indian Foods Group sits at the centre of this collaboration, having cemented the relationship and aligned the strategic vision.
For IFG’s director Naresh Gupta, this represents entry into a significantly larger market with long-term growth potential. Europe offers retail sophistication, scale and an increasing appetite for other cuisines. The opportunity extends beyond distribution into manufacturing alignment, category building and structured market development.
“This partnership is about building infrastructure for the long term,” IFG leadership notes. “It is not simply about exporting products, but about establishing a meaningful foothold in Europe.”
Building on proven success
A key driver behind the European expansion is IFG’s performance in Australia. Haldiram’s Foods has recognised IFG as its largest export partner globally. Over recent years, IFG has successfully transitioned Indian food from specialist ethnic aisles into mainstream Australian retail and is now launching into snacks more broadly.
Iconic product ranges such as Samosa, Naan and Paratha have played a central role in this shift. These formats are globally recognised symbols of Indian cuisine. In Australia, they have moved beyond niche positioning into everyday consumption, particularly within the frozen and entertaining categories.
The Samosa range has proven especially effective in bridging traditional cuisine with contemporary retail demand. Naan and Paratha have similarly evolved from restaurant staples into convenient household products, aligning with modern meal occasions.
Haldiram’s Foods sees IFG’s ability to mainstream iconic snacks as a replicable model for Europe.
An evolving business model
The European initiative signals an expansion of the company’s operating model. While Australian operations remain a priority, the company is now engaging in a broader strategy, including manufacturing alignment and international coordination.
At this stage, the focus is on strategic planning, market understanding, and structural evaluation. The next 18 months will involve increased travel, deeper collaboration and the establishment of operational frameworks.
Importantly, IFG is taking a measured approach. Rather than imposing an Australian template, the focus is on understanding consumer behaviour, retail dynamics and competitive positioning within Spain and the broader European market.
“It is still early days,” IFG notes. “Our priority is to build a sustainable structure and assess how our Australian learnings translate into Europe.”
Balancing global growth and domestic leadership
Over the next three to five years, IFG’s strategy centres on leveraging market synergies. The company will continue driving awareness and penetration of Indian food in Australia while applying its expertise to snacks in Europe.
Australian operations remain business as usual, with continued focus on strengthening household penetration across the Samosa, Naan and Paratha ranges. The long-term ambition remains clear: To make these iconic formats everyday staples in Australian homes and, ultimately, in the snacks category in other global markets.
Success in Europe, meanwhile, will initially be defined by establishing a credible foothold, validating market fit and deepening collaboration with Haldiram’s Foods and the Nippon Group.
The European partnership does not dilute IFG’s domestic focus. Instead, it reinforces the company’s broader ambition to position Indian ranges as a global mainstream category.
As IFG enters this next phase, it stands at the intersection of manufacturing scale, market expertise and proven retail execution – shaping a connected growth pathway for Indian food and products across continents.
- Contact via https://indianfoods.com.au/.
