New Delhi, March 7 -- In the Indian kitchen today, two realities coexist rather uncomfortably.

On the one hand is a modern, time-poor workforce that is perpetually juggling professional commitments and domestic expectations. On the other is a deeply entrenched cultural belief that equates freshly cooked food with love, diligence, and moral responsibility.

Between these two stands an 85 % adoption gap in the ready-to-eat, or RTE, market. Yet, despite this gap, the RTE and the adjacent ready-to-heat segment already has an addressable consumer base of 70-80 million Indians, reflecting the latent scale of the opportunity.

For years, the industry assumed that faster delivery would automatically drive adoption. The rise of quick commerce was...