Way to sell food online in India: A complete guide to start an online food business
In five easy steps, you can establish an internet food business.
Taking teachings from their mothers and grandmothers is something I’ve noticed every culinary entrepreneur swears by. Indian families used to live in packs, with each home containing over 10-12 persons. A Head Chef (grandmother) and sous chefs (mothers and aunts) would be on hand to assist her. In less than 4 hours, they could create tasty, aromatic cuisine for a large family.
The world has changed. Women control the accounts and source the raw supplies, while men cook in the kitchens at home. The lessons, however, remain the same. Customers are satisfied when they get good meals delivered on time.
1. Choose which foods to offer on the internet.
To begin cooking, you need not need a master’s degree in culinary arts. Due to the demand for food delivery during the lockdown, several homemakers and home cooks began selling meals online.
First and foremost, if you want to sell food, attempt to find a niche, since this will help you build a solid consumer base. If baking is your strong suit, try opening a bakery like Marie George Kuruvinakunnel did. ‘Temptations by Marie,’ a home bakery in Kerala, caters to special events and accepts orders via WhatsApp.
Define the WHY of selling food on the internet as well.
Providing high-quality meals
Shashank, the CEO of The Whole Truth, for example, sells protein bars with only 3-4 ingredients. His goal is to debunk companies that claim to care about their consumers’ health by labelling their products as “sugar-free” or “100% natural.”
Creating job opportunities in the food preparation industry
Who says you need to know how to cook to sell food on the internet? It’s not always about the food when it comes to selling meals online. You may open a cloud restaurant that distributes food to people in your city or throughout India! All you need to do is hire somebody who can be trained and equipped to cook.
Cooked By Moms, for example, is a social venture that empowers women from various areas of India to cook and serve homemade food to workplaces.
2. Create a business model.
You’ll need a business model, or a plan, to assist you determine what food to sell online. Creating a company model is quite simple. This will assist you in comprehending your target audience, working capital costs, logistics, and vision.
With this in mind, we teamed with msmeX, a small business consulting platform, to assist you in developing your perfect company model. All you have to do is sign up for our e-learning platform, mojoVersity, and take the short, free online course.
3. Obtain business permits and register your company.
Register your business online once you’ve decided on your business plan and niche. Small enterprises can easily register their company. The different licences and resources you’ll need to refer to and obtain are listed below. To register for a food licence, go to the government’s official website.
Food sellers with an annual turnover of less than Rs 12 lakh must register with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) (those above the Rs 12 Lakh limit need to apply for a license). This article explains the various FSSAI registrations that relate to your company.
If your turnover surpasses Rs 12 lakh, you must obtain an FSSAI licence. This is most commonly seen in medium-sized restaurants and motels. Failure to register with the FSSAI will result in a heavy fine of Rs. 5 lakh, according to the law.
4. Purchase ingredients from reputable suppliers.
You’ve registered your company and selected what you’ll sell, and now you’ll need your supplies. Approach distributors and wholesalers to obtain components ranging from salt to a massive oven, depending on the size of your company. Before you start looking for a distributor, bear the following in mind:
- Costs of production
- The raw material’s quality
- Time for shipping and delivery
- Client recommendations and testimonials
- Communication and material accessibility
What distributor would you recommend as a starting point? When it comes to supplies and ingredients, Indiamart is one of the most popular distributors among food enterprises.
Validate your items: Within groups, sell
Before going full throttle, test and approve your dish with a few customers. This could be a group of friends, family members, or peers. Before you sell food online, get feedback and address any issues. To make it easier to manage orders, create WhatsApp groups for early orders.
5. Set up your online store
Every small business should have a website. When you have an internet business, it is much easier to sell food online. You can choose to create a free online store with Instamojo and then upgrade to a fresh new premium store once you’ve gained experience in the eCommerce industry.
Customers with the premium shop can purchase fresh Maharashtrian food at the Rajlaxmi store.
To increase sales, your food goods should look and sound appealing to potential customers. As a result, high-resolution product images are a must-have for your eCommerce site. You can either hire a food photographer or do it yourself for this.
You must be specific in your product descriptions, describing the flavour and texture of the food you sell. Don’t allow any room for uncertainty. Remember, a sceptic does not purchase!
Source: ecommerce platforms , online selling platform
