Tomatoes are widely consumed and worldwide cultivated. They are one of the most important crops around the world. Tomato (Lycopersiconesculentum) belongs to the genus Lycopersicon under Solanaceae family. Tomato is an herbaceous sprawling plant growing to 1-3 m in height with weak woody stem. The flowers are yellow in colour and the fruits of cultivated varieties vary in size from cherry tomatoes, about 1–2 cm in size to beefsteak tomatoes, about 10 cm or more in diameter. Most cultivars produce red fruits when ripe. Tomato is a native to Peruvian and Mexican region. Tomato is indigenous to the Peru and Equator region in South America and it probably evolved from Lycopersiconesculentum var. cerasiforme, the cherry form. However, it was domesticated and first cultivated in Central America by early Indian civilizations of Mexico.
Tomato is a valuable raw material used for processed products such as juice, puree, and paste, ketchup/sauce, and canned whole. The recent scientific advances have revolutionized tomato processing industries.
Tomato ketchup, Soups and Sauce are all palatable foods, used in all hotels, restaurants and houses. Tomatoes sauce and ketchup can enhance the flavor of almost any cooked dish. Cooking tomatoes — such as in spaghetti sauce — makes the fruit heart-healthier and boosts its cancer-fighting ability. All this, despite a loss of vitamin C during the cooking process, substantially raises the levels of beneficial photochemical. Ketchup is a sweeter and diluted version of puree (Pulp). Tomato sauce tastes sweet and sour. Both sauce and ketchup are consumed with food and snacks.
Tomato processing industry is huge. The only ketchup and sauce market in India is pegged at Rs 1,000 crore and growing at around 20% year-on-year. There is a big market for the processed tomato products. The market scenario has revealed a positive indication for the specially packed tomato sauce in local as well as outside market. Rapid urbanization has increased the use of processed tomato products.
Fast food and ketchup are directly proportional to one another. The sweet and tangy taste provided by ketchup adds to the entire experience of a delicious or finger licking meal. Thus the rise in the demand for fast food has resulted in the rise in the demand for ketchup in India.
With the growing patterns of fast food consumption in the country the need for ketchup is also increasing. According to a recent survey conducted by Down to Earth it is estimated that Indians spend about ` 4,449 crore a year in fast-food centers. Entrepreneurs who invest in this project will be successful.
Few Indian major players are as under
Adinath Agro Processed Foods Pvt. Ltd.
Cremica Food Inds. Ltd.
Nestle India Ltd
Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
Sublime Foods Ltd.
Veeba Food Services Pvt. Ltd.
Tropicana Beverages Co
