Gaurav Dhingra

Gaurav Dhingra   is a third-generation entrepreneur and Director of   Defence Bakery, one of Delhi’s most iconic bakery institutions, established in   1962, and a Partner at   Alma Bakery & Café   in Noida. With a unique blend of international hospitality training and family business leadership, he has been instrumental in transforming a legacy bakery into a contemporary food and café brand.

A graduate of   HIM Montreux (Hotel Institute Montreux), Switzerland, Gaurav began his career in the international hospitality industry, working in   France, Switzerland, and the United States. After gaining valuable global exposure in hospitality operations, service excellence, and food business management, he returned to India with the vision of modernising the family enterprise.

Together with his brother   Tushar Dhingra, a   Le Cordon Bleu London alumnus and Executive Chef, he has led the comprehensive renovation, expansion, and reinvention of Defence Bakery. The brothers have successfully blended the brand’s six-decade heritage with innovation in artisanal baking, patisserie, café culture, product development, and customer experience, expanding the business across Delhi NCR while preserving its reputation for quality and craftsmanship.

Gaurav’s leadership has focused on brand transformation, operational excellence, retail expansion, and adapting traditional baking heritage to the expectations of today’s consumers. He has also played a key role in developing   Alma Bakery & Café, a modern hospitality concept that reflects his passion for thoughtfully designed café experiences, specialty coffee, and globally inspired cuisine.

Deeply committed to the advancement of the bakery and hospitality sector, Gaurav currently serves as the   General Secretary of the Indian Bakers Federation (IBF). In this capacity, he actively contributes to industry initiatives, policy discussions, entrepreneurship development, and knowledge-sharing platforms that support the growth of the bakery, patisserie, and café ecosystem in India.

With over two decades of experience spanning international hospitality and food entrepreneurship, Gaurav Dhingra is recognised for his ability to bridge   global hospitality standards with Indian culinary heritage, creating businesses that honour tradition while embracing innovation and the future of the bakery industry.