IBA's National Beverage Conclave: Exploring opportunities and overcoming challenges in non-alcoholic beverage industry

New Delhi: The Indian Beverage Association (IBA) is organizing the National Beverage Conclave 2023, which will be held at the Shangri-La Eros Hotel in New Delhi. The conclave, scheduled for July 6, will focus on the theme of "Sustainable Food Systems: Redefining the Beverage Industry."

The conclave aims to showcase and reinforce the non-alcoholic beverages industry as a driver of job creation, export-oriented supply chains, and investments in food processing aligned with national priorities. To support India’s ambition to move from food security to nutrition security, the conclave will highlight the industry's potential in environmental sustainability (water conservation, plastic reduction), economic and fiscal sustainability (investment and incentives), and social sustainability (healthier diets, improved welfare). 

The event will bring together key stakeholders including policy makers, regulatory bodies, food scientists, Indian and International organizations such as the WHO, ICMR-NIN, industry, startups, think tanks as well as influencers and key opinion leaders. 

With a market value of approximately INR 58,000 crore in 2022, according to the Indian Council for Research on International Economics Research’s (ICRIER) 2022 study on the ‘Contribution of Non-alcoholic Beverage Sector to Indian Economic Growth’, the non-alcoholic beverages industry has experienced remarkable average growth rate of approximately 20% over the previous decade. The report finds that the sector has emerged as a vital player in the Indian economy, with bottled water reaching 96% of retailer shops, Carbonated Soft drinks at 82%, and juices at 68% across the country. The report further indicates that the industry has caused a combined value added to the economy estimated at INR 80,000 crore, with over 8,00,000 jobs created. The sector contributes to approximately 11% of a retailer's revenue and nearly 1% of the government's revenue. 

Despite this impressive growth, the sector faces challenges including high GST and rates not aligned with FSSAI Regulations, unfair competition from the informal sector, counterfeit products, negative public perceptions, value/supply chain constraints, and the unavailability of quality local raw materials. The IBA recognizes these challenges faced by the non-alcoholic beverage sector in sustaining growth while being a responsible producer of beverages and is committed to driving positive change for the sector.

Commenting on the conclave, JP Meena, Secretary General, IBA stated, "A multi-stakeholder engagement and public-private partnership are important to address many of these local challenges. IBA is committed to driving a sustainable food system and having a meaningful impact on the economic progress of the country while also addressing many of the social, economic and environmental challenges."

The Conclave will lay the future roadmap for making India a global beverage processing hub by 2030. It will explore best practices, provide recommendations for government policies, and focus on creating an ecosystem that supports export-oriented growth, innovation, and international collaboration. The idea is to shape the future of the non-alcoholic beverage industry and contribute to India's journey towards a 5 trillion-dollar economy.