From premium chocolate hampers to healthier snack boxes, FMCG brands are giving festive gifting a makeover as consumers look for more choice, convenience and personalisation.
India’s festive season is bringing more than sweets to shopping baskets. With FMCG consumption growing 9.5% in September, brands are gearing up for a season where traditional favourites meet changing consumer preferences. According to retail intelligence firm Bizom, chocolates and confectionery grew 11.2%, while beverages recorded 11.1% growth, reflecting momentum across key consumption categories.
For brands, the opportunity extends beyond stocking shelves. Festive gifting is evolving, with premium packaging, curated assortments and health-conscious options creating new ways to win consumers.
ITC is tapping into this shift through a portfolio that spans indulgence and wellness. Its premium chocolate brand Fabelleoffers curated festive hampers, while Yoga Bar and Right Shift bring health-oriented choices into the gifting conversation. The mix reflects how packaged food brands are looking to serve consumers seeking gifts that feel both special and relevant to their lifestyles.
Meanwhile, Haldiram’s continues to draw on the familiarity of Indian festive flavours, offering Diwali assortments featuring traditional sweets, savouries and dry fruits. Such collections allow consumers to choose between classic festive gifting and more elaborate gift boxes across price points.
The wider opportunity is also opening up for brands such as Farmley, which has built its proposition around dry fruits and modern snacking, offering an alternative to the conventional mithai box.
Nutty Gritties is giving the familiar dry-fruit gift a more premium treatment. Its current gifting collection includes The Festive Edit, Gold Jar Gift Box, Joy Edition and luxury hampers featuring nuts, berries and reusable presentation pieces.
For marketers, the festive playbook is expanding. Discounts still matter, but distinctive assortments, attractive packaging and easy delivery can help brands stand out in a crowded market. As gifting becomes more personal, the winning proposition may be a balance of tradition, premiumisation and mindful choices.
The mithai box isn’t disappearing. It’s simply making room for more options.
