India, Sept. 30 -- The neighbourhood bakery has travelled a long way from the loaf sold over the counter. Bread, cakes, pastries, rusks and biscuits now sit at the centre of everyday eating in India, from the morning tea to the birthday celebration to the dessert ordered on a phone at night.

Market estimates differ by research house, but the direction is clear. One report values the Indian bakery market at USD 12.12 billion in 2025 and expects it to reach USD 30.04 billion by 2035, growing at 9.5 per cent a year. Another puts the 2025 figure higher, at USD 15.05 billion, and projects USD 32.05 billion by 2034.

Several forces are behind this. Changing urban diets, demand for fusion food and the spread of modern retail are fueling growth,...