Aug 21: Amid evolving concerns around food prices, household expenses and the availability of key staples, consumer search behaviour indicates a growing focus on affordability and value across everyday food requirements. Data from Justdial Limited, India’s local search engine, shows increased searches across categories including tiffin services, budget supermarkets, grocery wholesalers and sugar dealers .
The analysis, comparing search volumes between July 2025–June 2026 and July 2024–June 2025, points to consumers increasingly exploring cost-effective meal solutions, value-focused grocery formats and wholesale sourcing options. While search trends do not establish a direct correlation with movements in food prices, the rise across these categories reflects heightened consumer interest in comparing options and finding greater value for everyday requirements.
Affordable meal options emerged as the strongest trend, with searches for Tiffin Services rising 55% pan-India. Ranchi led with a 106% surge, followed by Jaipur at 90%, Patna at 74% and Bhopal at 72%. Indore recorded a 62% increase, while Delhi and Lucknow saw growth of 57% and 56%, respectively. Mumbai registered a 38% rise during the same period.
The value-seeking trend was also visible in grocery shopping. Searches for Budget Supermarket Services increased by 32% nationally, with Surat recording the highest growth at 59%, followed by Kolkata at 55% and Bangalore at 42%. Delhi and Mumbai each registered a 31% increase, while Pune, Jaipur and Lucknow recorded growth of 28%, 25% and 22%, respectively.
Justdial data also shows that consumers appeared to be looking beyond conventional retail formats, with searches for Grocery Wholesalers growing by 30% pan-India. Kolkata led the category with a 77% increase, followed by Delhi at 32% and Pune at 28%. Ahmedabad and Jaipur each registered growth of 25%, while Mumbai and Bangalore saw increases of 24% and 21%, respectively.
Taken together, the trends point towards a broader shift in how consumers are searching for everyday food and grocery requirements. From ready-to-eat meal solutions and budget supermarkets to wholesale suppliers for staples, users are increasingly exploring a wider range of options that can offer convenience, choice and value as household spending remains firmly in focus.
APPENDIX
Tiffin Services
July ’25–June ’26 vs July ’24–June ’25
Pan-India – 55% increase Delhi – 57% increase Mumbai – 38% increase Lucknow – 56% increase Jaipur – 90% increase Indore – 62% increase Patna – 74% increase Ranchi – 106% increase Bhopal – 72% increase
Budget Supermarket Services
July ’25–June ’26 vs July ’24–June ’25
Pan-India – 32% increase Delhi – 31% increase Mumbai – 31% increase Pune – 28% increase Bangalore – 42% increase Lucknow – 22% increase Jaipur – 25% increase Kolkata – 55% increase Surat – 59% increase
Grocery Wholesalers
July ’25–June ’26 vs July ’24–June ’25
Pan-India – 30% increase Delhi – 32% increase Mumbai – 24% increase Bangalore – 21% increase Pune – 28% increase Kolkata – 77% increase Ahmedabad – 25% increase Jaipur – 25% increase