June 12: Consumer interest in convenience-led meal solutions is on the rise across urban India, according to an analysis of user searches on Justdial between May 2025-April 2026 and the corresponding period a year earlier. Searches for tiffin services recorded a 25% increase pan-India during the period, reflecting growing demand for reliable, affordable and convenient meal options.
Among key cities, Lucknow witnessed the highest growth in tiffin service searches at 33%, followed by Delhi at 31%. Pune recorded a 17% increase, while Mumbai and Ahmedabad saw growth of 15% each. Bangalore also registered a 6% rise, indicating increasing consumer reliance on organised and semi-organised meal providers.
The trend extends beyond tiffin services. Searches related to food convenience services grew 17% across India during the same period. Delhi led the category with a 30% increase in searches, followed by Mumbai at 25%, while Hyderabad and Chennai recorded growth of 6% and 4% respectively.
Consumer interest in catering services also remained positive, particularly in Mumbai and Pune, where searches increased by 8% and 3% respectively. The demand is being driven by office events, celebrations, social gatherings and community functions, with consumers increasingly exploring local catering providers through digital discovery platforms.
The analysis also highlights the growing role of hyperlocal search platforms in influencing how consumers discover and engage with everyday food service providers. As consumers increasingly rely on digital channels to explore nearby services, local and MSME-led food businesses are placing greater emphasis on strengthening their digital visibility, making such platforms an increasingly important channel for customer acquisition and business growth.
The continued rise in search activity across tiffin, food convenience and catering categories reflects the expanding role of convenience-led services within urban India’s food ecosystem. From subscription-based tiffins and ready-to-access meals to local catering solutions, consumers are increasingly prioritising accessibility, affordability and time-saving food options in their everyday lives, while organised and local operators continue to see growing opportunities across urban markets.
The findings are based on user search trends observed on the Justdial platform between May 2025-April 2026 and the corresponding period a year earlier.
