20/09/2025
Time to thing - Let make India Proud
For each US product and brand, here are some of their alternative options, with a focus on Indian brands where available.
Fast Food & Beverages
* McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Pizza Hut: In addition to the already mentioned Nirula's and Jumbo King, popular Indian-origin fast-food chains include Wow! Momo, specializing in dumplings, and Faasos, which pioneered the cloud kitchen model in India with a wide variety of wraps, biryanis, and more. For traditional Indian food on the go, Haldiram's offers a wide range of snacks and meals.
* Coca-Cola, PepsiCo: While many of these products are sold under the brand names, their Indian alternatives include Paper Boat, known for its traditional Indian beverages like aam panna and jaljeera. Other local options for juices and soft drinks are brands like Frooti and Maaza.
* Starbucks: The most prominent Indian alternative is Cafe Coffee Day (CCD). Other homegrown coffee chains like Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters and Third Wave Coffee Roasters have also gained significant popularity.
Apparel & Fashion
* Levi's, American Eagle, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein: For denim and casual wear, Indian brands like Flying Machine and Spykar are strong competitors. In the formal and semi-formal wear category, Monte Carlo, Allen Solly, and Peter England are widely recognized Indian brands.
Electronics & Technology
* Apple, Dell, HP: While direct Indian competitors for high-end laptops and smartphones are still emerging, brands like Micromax and Lava have carved out a niche in the budget smartphone segment. In the audio and wearables space, BoAt and Noise are dominant Indian brands. In the software and IT services sector, Indian companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys are global powerhouses.
Automobiles
* Ford, Jeep: While Ford has ceased manufacturing in India, the market is dominated by Indian brands like Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. Tata Motors offers a wide range of passenger cars and SUVs, while Mahindra & Mahindra is known for its SUVs like the Thar and XUV700. For motorcycles, the Indian brand Royal Enfield is a cultural icon.
Personal Care & FMCG
* Colgate-Palmolive, Gillette, P&G, Johnson & Johnson: The Indian market for personal care and FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) is rich with local alternatives. For toothpaste, Dabur and Patanjali are major Indian players. In skincare and personal care, Himalaya Herbals, Patanjali, and Vicco offer a wide range of products with a focus on ayurvedic and herbal ingredients. Indian conglomerates like ITC (with brands like Fiama) and Godrej are also strong competitors in this space. Lakmé, owned by Hindustan Unilever, is one of India's oldest and most trusted cosmetics brands.
* Kellogg's: Indian cereal and breakfast brands like Saffola and Bagrrys provide popular alternatives.
Retail & E-commerce
* Amazon, Walmart (via Flipkart): Indian e-commerce platforms like Tata CliQ, Myntra (for fashion), BigBasket (for groceries), and JioMart offer a variety of products and services, competing directly with their global counterparts.