75.8% Indians Now Active Dairy Consumers: Study

A new consumer study by Godrej Jersey has revealed that 75.8% of Indians are “active dairy consumers”, meaning households regularly consume milk along with multiple dairy products such as curd, paneer, ghee, butter, lassi, yogurt and cheese. The findings come from the India Lactograph Report FY25-26, which highlights how dairy has evolved from a single glass of milk into a multi-product nutrition system embedded in daily household diets across India.

Among active consumers, curd leads consumption at 80%, followed by paneer (76%), butter (74%), and ghee (71%), while lassi (63%), cheese (58%), yogurt (57%), and traditional milk-based sweets (55%) are also widely consumed. The report notes that Indian households increasingly maintain a “dairy basket” with different products used across meals, snacks and celebrations.

Curd remains the most universal dairy product across regions, appearing in everyday dishes such as curd rice, buttermilk and raita, while paneer has expanded from its traditional North Indian roots to become a widely accepted vegetarian protein nationwide. The study also observes that dairy is adapting to modern consumption habits, especially among younger and urban consumers, with milk increasingly used in smoothies, protein shakes and café-style beverages.

According to Shantanu Raj, Head of Marketing at Godrej Jersey, the Indian dairy category is shifting from “just a glass of milk” to a value-added, high-protein and functional dairy ecosystem aligned with evolving nutrition and lifestyle trends.

Source: Dairynews7x7 13th March, 2026 Get full story here

#IndianDairy #DairyConsumption #GodrejJersey #MilkNutrition #DairyTrends #ValueAddedDairy #FoodHabitsIndia