India’s largest listed food companies are improving how they manage risks linked to meat, dairy, poultry and seafood supply chains, according to a new Asia-wide report. However, the report also raises fresh accountability questions for the country’s biggest food companies.
India has emerged as one of the fastest-improving markets in the study. The average score of Indian companies has more than doubled, from around 7 per cent in 2023 to 16 per cent in 2025. Of the 13 Indian companies assessed, 11 showed improvement over the past year. This suggests that companies are implementing basic supply-chain governance systems.
The findings come from the Asian Protein Buyers 100 report, a benchmark that evaluates how 100 of Asia’s largest listed food companies manage environmental and social risks across Non-vegetarian food supply chains, released by Asia Research & Engagement (ARE).
The benchmark operates across Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore.
Major companies reviewed in the report include Nestlé India, Hindustan Unilever, Tata Consumer Products, Jubilant FoodWorks and Devyani International, among others. These firms play a major role in influencing sourcing practices, both domestically and internationally. “India can become a reference point for how emerging markets manage protein transition at scale across meat, dairy, poultry and seafood systems,” said Rituj Sahu, ARE Director, Protein Transition (India).
Despite overall improvement, the report suggests that climate and animal welfare remain areas where many Indian companies are still in the early stages of their journey. More than half of the Indian companies are yet to begin disclosing against climate-related indicators, including Scope 3 emissions exposure, targets, or transition planning. "References to recognised disclosure frameworks remain limited, and commitments to absolute emissions reduction are rare," the report says.
The report notes that India’s protein demand is rising due to urbanisation and higher incomes. Consumption of eggs, dairy, fish and meat is expected to grow steadily. At the same time, climate risks, land constraints and animal-health concerns are increasing pressure on the food system.
“Early progress on supply-chain governance is encouraging. What matters now is converting that momentum into measurable action across sourcing, climate, responsible antibiotic use, and animal welfare," Sahi says.