Lactose Free Drinks With UHT Convenience Transform Indian Beverage Market
Updated on Oct - 27 - 2025, 05:15 PM
The beverage shelf in India is quietly being reinvented. Driven by rising health awareness, urbanisation and lifestyle change, Indian consumers are increasingly turning to lactose-free and low sugar alternatives and brands are responding with drinks that pair better for you credentials with convenient packaging. Recent reports highlights how Ultra High Temperature (UHT) processing is enabling this shift by adding shelf stability and mobility to previously niche products.
According to research referenced in the story, roughly three out of four Indians have some degree of lactose intolerance, a fact that many weren’t aware of until recently. Add to that the surge in diabetes, obesity and sugar-sensitivity, and you’ve got a market ripe for smarter indulgences. What’s interesting is while traditional dairy has held strong in India, the combination of newer retail formats (e-commerce, ready-to-drink on-the-go) and smarter packaging means that dairy-alternatives are no longer fringe.
The UHT packaging method plays a key role: it allows drinks to remain shelf stable without refrigeration, which in turn means better reach in places where fridge access is limited. For urban consumers, busy lives and long work hours make such ready-to-drink options especially appealing.
A standout is the brand Zumi Foods (part of Beanery Foods), which designed lactose free milkshakes in flavours like Filter Kaapi, Rasmalai, Kheer and Chocolate packaged in 200 ml UHT tetra-packs, with 7-8 g of protein per serving. Launched initially in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, it shows how startups are bridging functional nutrition and local tastes.
For brands, the message is clear: clean-label, lactose-free, low no sugar, convenient format that’s a winning formula in today’s India. For consumers, it’s not just about avoiding discomfort but also about aligning indulgence with health. The scale-up of such offerings indicates a broader shift in how Indians view dairy, alternatives, packaging and health.
In summary: The Indian beverage industry is adapting to a new normal consumers want smarter choices delivered in smart formats. Lactose free plus UHT convenience is the modern combination that’s helping this transformation.