Day 1
SEPT 29, 2026
09:00 AM Onwards
Conference Registration along with Networking Tea
10:00 AM - 10:05 AM
WELCOME ADDRESS
10:05 AM - 10:15 AM
INAUGURAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS
10:15 AM - 11:25 AM
Session 1: The Holistic Ecosystem of India’s HoReCa Industry
- Analysing the national F&B power curve, where legacy tastes meet luxury aspirations.
- Evaluating trends in Full-Service Restaurants (FSRs), including national opportunities and challenges.
- Understanding the competitive matrix between national chains and homegrown powerhouses.
- Decoding shifting consumer behaviours, such as the rise of solo dining and brunch culture.
- The evolution of the food delivery ecosystem and the shaping of dining habits.
- Market insights into hyperlocal preferences across different Indian regions.
- Identifying the future of the industry through long-term ROI and sustainable growth.
SPEAKERS
- Mr. Rakshay Dhariwal, Founder & Managing Director, Pass Code Hospitality & Maya Pistola Agavepura, Co-Founder, India Cocktail Week
- Mr. Nitin Mathur, COO, EHV International (Indian Accent, Comorin, Hosa, Fireback, Barback, Chor Bizzare, Drift Cafe Bar, EHV Catering)
- Mr. Shreh Madan, Co-Founder, Burgrill
11:25 AM - 12:25 PM
Session 2: Tech Integration in Restaurant Hospitality and Catering
- Implementing AI-enabled forecasting for staffing and service orchestration.
- The adoption of robotic kitchens and smart appliances for automated inventory discipline.
- Strengthening back-of-house efficiencies through IoT and smart planning.
- Tech-driven personalization and data-powered guest experiences.
- Exploring future POS ecosystems with omnichannel integration and payment fluidity.
- Leveraging AI and data analytics to predict national food trends.
- Enhancing delivery efficiency through tech-driven logistics and automation.
SPEAKERS
- Mr. Kishore Sharma, Chief Operating Officer, Giani’s Ice Cream
- Mr. Sachin Pabreja, Co-Founder & CEO, EazyDiner
- Mr. Priyank Singh Chouhan, Director- Operations & Culinary, JSM Corporation Pvt. Ltd.
12:25 PM – 12:35 PM
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
12:35 PM– 1:25 PM
Session 3: Business Models and Operations: Profitability and Expansion
- Decoding the “Profitability Stack” for modern restaurants to ensure sustainable success.
- Identifying profit power-centers across menu, manpower, and marketing.
- Analyzing the pros and cons of different formats: QSRs, Cloud Kitchens, and Fine Dining.
- Franchising as a profit multiplier and the essentials of creating scalable concepts.
- Best-in-class cost control and dynamic pricing strategies.
- Understanding the new-age investor lens for F&B business expansion.
- Vendor negotiations and the benefits of backward integration for local sourcing.
SPEAKERS
- Mr. Kaushik Roy, Founder & CEO, Biryani By Kilo
- Mr. Akash Kalra, Managing Director, United Coffee House Restaurants
- Mr. Amit Bagga, Co-Founder, Daryaganj Hospitality
- Mr. Samir Kuckreja, Founder & CEO, Tasanaya Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.
- Mr. Arjun Toor, Co-Founder, RollsKing
1:25 PM -1:35 PM
KEYNOTE SESSION
01:35 PM – 2:15 PM
NETWORKING LUNCH
2:15 PM - 3:00 PM
Session 4: Digital Creators Driving Growth in the F&B Industry
- Content creators influencing food trends, dining habits, and consumer preferences
- Converting digital content into real business — boosting visibility, discovery, and footfall
- Navigating authenticity and sponsored content while maintaining audience trust
- Creators evolving into business owners through brands, pop-ups, and partnerships
- The impact of short-form videos and social platforms on modern food marketing
- Regional and niche creators bringing attention to local cuisines and hidden food spots
- Understanding performance metrics, engagement, and ROI in influencer-led campaigns
- The expanding creator economy as a catalyst for scaling F&B businesses
- Collaborative ecosystems between creators, chefs, and food brands for mutual growth
SPEAKERS
- Mr. Anubhav Sapra, Founder & Food Explorer, Delhi Food Walks
- Mr. Gurpreet Singh Tikku, Founder, Mister Tikku
- Mr. Indrajit Lahiri, Founder, Foodka | Co- Founder, Eastern Staple | Author, Entrepreneur & Cultural Storyteller
3:00 PM - 3:10 PM
KEYNOTE SESSION
3:10 PM - 4:10 PM
Session Partner
Coffee Innovation Partner
Session 5: Cafes and Bakeries: The Artisanal and Social Boom
- The rise of experiential cafes and what consumers seek beyond coffee.
- Analyzing the bakery and patisserie boom shaping urban menus.
- Millennials and Gen Z as the primary drivers of modern cafe culture.
- Promoting local artisans and specialty coffee roasters.
- Developing dessert bars and artisanal bakeries as scalable profit centers.
- The role of social media in defining the aesthetic and success of cafes.
SPEAKERS
- Mr. Kazem Samandari, Executive Chairman, L’Opera
- Mr. Gaurav Wadhwa, Founder Director, Culinary Head & Co-owner, Theos Food Pvt. Ltd., Theos Manufacturing Pvt. Ltd., Theos Global Culinaria
- Mr. Gaurav Dhingra, Director, Defence Bakery Pvt Ltd, Partner, Alma Bakery & Cafe, General Secretary, Indian Bakers Federation
- Mr. Amitabh Negi, CEO, Vita Nova (Coffee Island)
- Mr. Jinraj Adyanthaya, Head of Sales, Nestle Professional India
- Mr. Abhinav Mathur, Managing Director, Kaapi Machines
- Mr. Dhruv Singh, Founder & CEO, Chelvies Coffee
4:10 PM - 4:20 PM
KEYNOTE SESSION
4:20 PM - 4:30 PM
KEYNOTE SESSION
4:30 PM - 5:20 PM
Session 6: Nightlife: High-Energy Spaces and Mixology
- Analyzing the booming craft mixology scene and the rise of functional wellness drinks.
- Live music and themed nights as drivers for redefining nighttime grazing.
- The evolution of bar menus to include fusion finger foods and signature infusions.
- Designing beverage programs with purpose and storytelling.
- Bar tech and innovation in breweries, lounges, and nightclubs.
SPEAKERS
- Mr. Rocky Mohan, Ex Executive Director, Mohan Meakin Ltd., Chairman, Mohan Goldwater Ltd., Promoter Chef Pin & Gourmet Passport, Author & TV Personality
- Mr. Goumtesh Singh, Co-Partner, Raasta, Co-Partner, Yeti
- Mr. Ajit GS, Founder, Crimson and Clover Hospitality India Pvt. Ltd. (Flo, CBD, Rasai, Cafe Del Sol, Bento Lab, Chat Chatore & Curry Express)
5:20 PM -6:10 PM
Session 7: Creating Exceptional Customer Experiences: The Future of Experiential Dining
- Understanding the shift from traditional dining to immersive and experience-led hospitality.
- Creating memorable dining environments through ambience, storytelling, entertainment and sensory engagement.
- Delivering personalized experiences that strengthen customer satisfaction, emotional connection and long-term loyalty.
- Integrating technology, service excellence and innovation to elevate every stage of the customer experience.
- Leveraging customer insights, feedback and behavioural trends to continuously enhance dining experiences.
- Designing distinctive dining concepts that inspire repeat visits, positive word-of-mouth and brand advocacy.
- Exploring future trends shaping experiential dining and the next generation of customer expectations.
SPEAKERS
- Chef Om Nayak, Chef & Founder, The Pasta Bowl Company, Bombay Meri Jaan, Chef Om’s Hospitality
- Ms. Sukriti Chopra, Co-founder, Ninecamp Ventures (Marieta Kitchen & Bar, Hikki and Mr Button)
6:10 PM - 6:45 PM
Session 8: From Farm to Fork: Shaping the Future of Conscious Dining
- Understanding the shift toward healthier, cleaner, and more mindful eating habits.
- Strengthening farm-to-fork ecosystems through quality sourcing and ingredient traceability.
- Integrating organic, clean-label, and naturally sourced ingredients into modern dining experiences.
- Reimagining menus to align wellness, nutrition, and evolving lifestyle preferences.
- Exploring the growing role of functional foods and wellness-led innovations.
- Creating meaningful food experiences through transparency and informed consumer choices.
- Examining future trends shaping the next generation of healthy dining.
SPEAKERS
- Chef Lata Tondon, Consultant – Restaurant & StartUp Ayurveda & Wellness Expert, Former Guinness World Record Holder
- Mr. Parthsarthi Gupta, Chief Financial Officer, Salad Days
Day 2
SEPT 30, 2026
09:00 AM ONWARDS
Conference Registration along with Networking Tea
10:00 AM - 10:05 AM
WELCOME ADDRESS
10:05 AM - 10:15 AM
INAUGURAL KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Curry, Culture & Craft: Decoding India’s Culinary Identity
Chef Davinder Kumar, Vice President, Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi & President, Indian Culinary Forum
10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Session 9: Future-Proofing Cloud Kitchens: Scaling Smart in a Dynamic Food Ecosystem
- Driving Operational Excellence through Automation & AI
- Standing Out in a Saturated Market
- Ensuring Consistency: Quality, Safety & Hygiene at Scale
- Tech Stack that Matters: Choosing the Right Tools for Growth
- Sustainable & Responsible Packaging as a Brand Driver
- Customer Retention & Brand Recall in a Digital-First World
- The Rise of Hybrid Models & Multi-Brand Kitchens
11:00 AM - 11:10 AM
KEYNOTE SESSION
11:10 AM - 12:00 PM
Session 10: Hospitality Leadership: Talent and Culture for a New Era
- Strategies for winning the “talent wars” by attracting and growing the right people.
- Building a people-forward environment in hotels and multi-unit groups.
- Leadership agility in a volatile and fast-evolving hospitality landscape.
- Implementing training frameworks that create lifelong hospitality professionals.
- Promoting gender diversity and inclusivity to meet modern workforce expectations.
- Developing crisis response playbooks for operations and reputation management.
SPEAKERS
- Chef Ramasamy Selvaraju, Corporate Chef, Taj Group of Hotels
12:00 PM - 12:10 PM
KEYNOTE SESSION
12:10 PM - 01:00 PM
Session 11: Culinary Creativity and Menu Innovation
- Navigating the balance between hyperlocal flavors and global formats.
- Ingredient innovation focusing on millets, microgreens, and plant-based alternatives.
- Seasonal engineering to maintain cost consistency and menu variety.
- The rise of chef-driven storytelling and experiential gastronomy.
- Elevating food standards through intensive Menu R&D.
- Creative plating and design trends tailored for modern Indian dining.
SPEAKERS
- Chef Montu Saini, Executive Chef – PHCU, Sr. Executive Chef – President’s Secretariat
(June 2015 – August 2020), Former Member Le Club Des Chefs Des Chefs (CCC)
(Since 2015 – 2020 , As special guest in General Assembly Meet in 2023), CCC – Club Of Personal Chefs Of Heads Of States & The World’s Most Exclusive Gastronomic Society - Chef Vineet Manocha, Head- Culinary Innovation & Production, Devyani International Ltd. (KFC, Pizza Hut, Costa Coffee, Vaango)
- Chef Suvir Saran, Culinary Director, Avas Wellness | Author of Tell My Mother I Like Boys
- Chef K. Thiru, Founding Dean, The School of Hospitality Management, Mahindra University
- Chef Rakesh Sethi, Corporate Executive Chef, Operations, South Asia Radisson Hotel Group
- Chef Koushik S., Chef, Founder, Eatitude Consultants, MasterChef Tamil Judge & TEDx Speaker
- Chef Vinod Bhati, Executive Member, Indian Culinary Forum, IFCA, WACS
- Mr. Rahul Bahl, Deputy General Manager (North) – Food Services, Tata Consumer Products
- Chef Vaibhav Bhargava, Food Consultant, Director of Abv Hospitalities Pvt Ltd
1:00 PM – 1:50 PM
NETWORKING LUNCH
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
AWARDS REGISTRATION
3:00 PM - 3:10 PM
KEYNOTE SESSION
Ms. Rashmi Uday Singh, Author of 40 food books, TV host, conferred the French government’s Chevalier knighthood. Founder of the non-profit global Hospitality Hope
3:10 PM - 3:50 PM
1ST SET OF AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED
3:50 PM - 4:40 PM
Session 12: Scaling and Expansion: From Homegrown to National
- Driving Operational Excellence through Automation & AI
- Standing Out in a Saturated Market
- Ensuring Consistency: Quality, Safety & Hygiene at Scale
- Tech Stack that Matters: Choosing the Right Tools for Growth
- Sustainable & Responsible Packaging as a Brand Driver
- Customer Retention & Brand Recall
- The Rise of Hybrid Models & Multi-Brand Kitchens
SPEAKERS
- Mr. Anand Krishnan, Managing Director, Vasanta Bhavan Hotels Private Limited
- Ms. Sunita Reddy, Chief Architect, ACME Designers
4:40 PM - 4:50 PM
KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Global Trend, Local Opportunity: Why Cage free is India next competitive edge
Mr. Siddharth Sharma, Manager – Corporate Engagement, Farm Animals Protection, Humane World for Animals