Health is Commonwealth

Health food majors are eyeing the Games to gain a firm foothold in Delhi. Exclusive chains serving vitamin-rich, pro-biotic drinks will soon be a reality

Health food majors are eyeing the Games to gain a firm foothold in Delhi. Exclusive chains serving vitamin-rich, pro-biotic drinks will soon be a reality

Come October and Delhi will be talking vitamins, proteins, carbohydrates, fat and cholesterol.

As the Commonwealth Games take centre stage, the national capital will be revved-up with exclusive chains serving everything healthy. From salads, sandwiches, yogurts to pro-biotic drinks with healthy enzymes, those looking for freedom from that unhealthy, sickening fast food are in for a treat. Even as Indians are getting more and more health conscious, a wave of foreign tourists and athletes will be favourable for launching such an initiative, feels GS Bhalla, CEO, Horizon Group.


Get, set, go: A health food outlet in south Delhi. The business is eyeing
the Commonwealth Games to expand and launch projects

Coming soon
The group has recently opened seven outlets with brand name 'Cocoberry' in and around Delhi and is looking forward to open four more in the coming months. "Two Cocoberry outlets are slated for Mumbai also by March," he added.
"Our potential target group are youngsters and those in 35-40 age group. Interestingly, 50 per cent population of the country falls in this bracket and they are looking for more options in food items," Bhalla told MiD DAY.u00a0
The global health food industry is worth multi-billion dollars and the exact size of the market is yet to be assessed.
When asked what is so different in health foods that the companies offering the products have gone for a detailed market survey, Bhalla said: "It is very different from regular food items and desserts on our menu. Firstly, these are completely fat-free products based on basic ingredients like yoghurt. While these are pro-biotic in nature the vitamin and ratio of other vital ingredients too, are high," said Bhalla.

Price range

Go hogging: The health food outlets are planning exclusive chains to cater to more than a lakh visitors that the city will host for Commonwealth Games

The food items are highly customizable in several different flavours and toppings of fruits and chocolates. The price range varies from Rs 40 to Rs 400. While a plate of salad along with a glass of juice would cost Rs 75 the cheapest yoghurt could cost you nothing more than Rs 39.
The industry is also looking forward to capitalise the enthusiasm of new age health conscious youngsters who sweat it out in gym and look for high energy food variant.
"We are specially targeting gyms and corporate companies. Corporate lunches and dinners have a big scope for health food," said Raghav Nanda from Cafe Energy, Satya Niketan.

On target
While Cocoberry has targeted the posh localities of the capital, including the student hubs of North Campus, Cafe Energy is specially focussing on South Campus.
India is just waking up to the concept of health food outlets but the western world is known to have a fetish for it. "These items are natural and without any kind of synthetic material used in the preparation. In juices also no sugar is added. While the health foods are very popular in the US, Europe, Canada has more than 200 outlets.
"Before the Commonwealth Games we are planning to open five outlets in Delhi and NCR while by March 2011 there would be 40 outlets across the country," said Anoop Sequira, CEO, Jus Booster bar.

Been there
While the trend of health food industry has just started in the capital the chain owners are actually waiting for the Commonwealth Games, which they believe would provide a booster dose to their business. "Commonwealth Games would sure act as bonus for us. The products are very popular in western countries and we are looking forward to the foreign tourists and visitors," said Bhalla.
"There are plenty of continental foods available in health food category. The products are very popular in countries like USA, France, Australia, Greece etc," said Raghav.
"Health Food is a combination of fruits and vegetables, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients working synergistically to fuel your body with essentials that promote healing energy and protection from disease. Drinking raw vegetable or fruit juice is basically eating food the way God made it," he added.u00a0

Rs 75 Cost of a plate of salad along with a glass of juice
Rs 39 Cost of a bowl of yoghurt

Beyond health

Functional food or medicinal food is any fresh or processed food claimed to have a health-promoting or disease-preventing property beyond the basic function of supplying nutrients. The general category of functional foods includes processed food or foods fortified with health-promoting additives, like "vitamin-enriched" products. Fermented foods with live cultures are considered as functional foods with probiotic benefits. Functional foods are an emerging field in food science due to their increasing popularity with health-conscious consumers. The term was first used in Japan in the 1980s where there is a government approval process for functional foods called Foods for Specified Health Use (FOSHU).

Juice it up

Cocoberry has its outlets in Defence Colony, Khan Market, Saket, Vasant Kunj and Raja Garden, Kamla Market and Connaught Place. While the outlets operates at Gurgaon from DLF Cyber City and Ambience Mall. While Cafu00e9 energy outlets are located at Satya Niketan- South Campus and Maharani Bagh.u00a0 Guests can order a variety of salads, sandwiches, yogurts, continental food, juices and several other desserts. The toppings are available in chocolate, kiwi fruit and several berries. The outlets also offer several confectionary products. "Smoothies and juices are the fast food of the new millennium. Consumers who once purchased a hamburger for a quick lunch or a candy bar for a mid-morning snack are now opting for healthier, fresh alternatives such as blended fruit drinks and salad pots," said Raghav. "Our aim is to provide a more wholesome and nutritious alternative to 'fast food'. Keeping in mind that nutrition is the most important factor which differentiates us from the rest; our menu has been designed and overseen by professional nutritionists to provide a variety of food and beverage options which are appetizing as well as beneficial," he added.