Cargill Presents NatureFresh Professional Delights at AAHAR 2024

Cargill Presents NatureFresh Professional Delights at AAHAR 2024

By Author

Published on March 11, 2024

In its commitment to offering innovative food solutions, Cargill unveiled a line of products under its NatureFresh Professional brand and showcased pioneering offerings tailored for the Indian Food and Bakery industry at AAHAR 2024, India’s premier international food and hospitality fair.

Under the theme 'The Whole World of Possibilities', Cargill introduced a range of applications and products spanning Bakery, Confectionery, Chocolates, and Convenience Foods. A standout launch was the Chocolate Indulgence line under NatureFresh Professional, featuring block chocolates, cocoa powder, and chocolate chips. Crafted through extensive research among India’s top bakers, these products come in four variants – Intense Dark, Dark, Milk, and White – offering unique flavors with high-quality cocoa and a creamy texture. Leveraging Cargill’s advanced DoMiReCo processing technology, these products ensure consistent high quality, meeting the expectations of Indian bakers. They boast a shelf life of 12-15 months and can be used in a variety of bakery and ice cream applications, from ganache to enrobing.

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Additionally, Cargill showcased innovative food solutions, including Modified Starch for sauces and dressings like Tomato Ketchup and mayonnaise. Developed using Cargill’s continuous innovation capabilities, these modified starch solutions maintain viscosity throughout their shelf life, ensuring uniformity and resilience against acid and heat. The company also presented trans-fat-free premium bakery fats with applications in cookies, puffs, and cakes, available in three variants – Elite, Classic & Master under the NatureFresh Professional brand.

Alongside these offerings, Cargill presented an array of novel recipes, functional fats, and solutions for cakes, cookies, bread, Danish pastries, and peanut butter, focusing primarily on the bakery category. These applications were developed to exceed consumer demands for superior quality, flavor, and texture.

The booth attracted strong footfall amidst the launch of its chocolate products from the bakery and food industry. Cargill also showcased innovative recipes in Bakery and Convenience Food from its “BakeZone” at its Innovation Center in Gurgaon, using their differentiated ingredient products.

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Simon George, President, Cargill India, and Managing Director of Food Solutions South Asia, expressed excitement about the opportunities ahead, emphasizing the company's commitment to creating safe, healthy, and innovative food solutions for the Indian market. Through AAHAR, Cargill aims to widen its reach to customers and provide comprehensive food solutions to meet their needs.

Cargill remains steadfast in its commitment to providing safe and quality products, investing in advanced manufacturing and refining equipment, and processes to ensure compliance with the highest standards of food safety regulations in the country. Recently, Cargill India received two CII Food Safety Awards 2023 for its food safety initiatives at its oil refinery plant in Kurkumbh, Maharashtra, and the sweeteners plant in Davangere, Karnataka.


The House of Makeba Sets Sights on National Expansion with Rs 45 Crore Investment Plan

The House of Makeba Sets Sights on National Expansion with Rs 45 Crore Investment Plan

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 6, 2025

Ahmedabad’s homegrown vegetarian restaurant chain, The House of Makeba, is preparing for a significant leap beyond Gujarat. Founded in 2018, this bootstrapped startup—known for its north Indian and global cuisines—has already crossed Rs 125 crore in cumulative revenue, scaling from Rs 1.2 crore in FY 2018-19 to an estimated Rs 24 crore in FY 2024-25, all without external funding.

“With every outlet and milestone built organically through belief, discipline, and reinvestment, we’ve focused on profitability over chasing valuations. We’re proud to have scaled sustainably in a fiercely competitive market,” said Ram Singhal, co-founder, The House of Makeba.

Today, the brand operates seven outlets across Gujarat, serving over 12 lakh diners, with nearly one in three being repeat customers. Its distinctive rooftop dining concept and regional-first strategy have helped it carve a niche in India’s crowded vegetarian F&B space.

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The House of Makeba follows a hybrid model, blending company-owned flagship locations with carefully chosen franchise partnerships in cities like Gandhinagar, Vadodara, and Anand. This scalable approach is now set to drive its national rollout, with plans to enter five new states by 2026, targeting markets such as Indore, Jaipur, Udaipur, Mumbai, and Pune.

To power this growth, the company plans to invest Rs 45 crore by 2028, potentially scaling to Rs 60 crore by 2030. It aims to have 20 outlets operational by 2028 and 25 by 2030, emerging as a premium, homegrown alternative to legacy vegetarian dining giants.


L’Opera Unveils Le Cafe at The Chanakya, Bringing Parisian Elegance to Delhi

L’Opera Unveils Le Cafe at The Chanakya, Bringing Parisian Elegance to Delhi

By Nishang Narayan

Published on July 6, 2025

L’Opera has unveiled its latest culinary gem—Le Cafe at The Chanakya, New Delhi—marking a refined new chapter in the brand’s journey. Nestled within Le Gourmet, Le Cafe is a thoughtfully crafted space that blends the everyday charm of Parisian cafes with the luxury shopping destination’s elegance, inviting guests to pause, savour, and enjoy an elevated French dining experience.

Rooted in L’Opera’s hallmark dedication to authenticity and craft, Le Cafe adds a fresh layer of warmth and versatility to the brand’s expanding portfolio. It captures the quiet joys of French living—from the scent of freshly baked baguettes to the delicate flakiness of croissants—transforming each visit into a sensory retreat.

Speaking on the launch, Laurent Samandari, Founder & Managing Director of L’Opera, shared, “With Le Cafe, we wanted to create a space where every detail from the aroma of fresh bread to the last spoon of risotto reminds you of the quiet pleasures of French living. It’s our way of bringing a little Paris to your daily life.”

The new cafe is anchored by four elegantly designed counters, each offering a distinct experience:

  • The Pastry & Bread Counter, showcasing signature L’Opera delicacies.

  • A Live Kitchen for freshly prepared classics.

  • A Salad & Sandwich Bar blending fresh flavours.

  • An Artisanal Pasta Counter celebrating European culinary traditions.

The menu itself is a sophisticated balance of comfort and creativity, carefully curated to suit every mood and moment. True to L’Opera’s ethos, there’s an emphasis on premium ingredients, mindful preparation, and catering to diverse dietary preferences, including vegetarian, gluten-free, and protein-rich options—often featuring fresh, organic, and locally sourced produce.

Whether shoppers stop by for a quick pastry or linger over a leisurely meal, Le Cafe seamlessly adapts, offering both refined takeaways and leisurely sit-down experiences. With this launch, L’Opera continues to infuse Delhi’s culinary landscape with authentic French finesse, turning everyday moments into delightful rituals.


FES Cafe Raises Rs 3 Crores in Seed Funding from Aakash Anand and Wolfpack Labs to Scale India's First 100% Eggless Dessert Cafe Chain

FES Cafe Raises Rs 3 Crores in Seed Funding from Aakash Anand and Wolfpack Labs to Scale India's First 100% Eggless Dessert Cafe Chain

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on July 5, 2025

India’s dessert scene just got a major upgrade as FES Cafe, the country’s first scalable 100% eggless, dessert-first cafe chain, raised Rs 3 crores in a seed round led by serial entrepreneur Aakash Anand and his venture studio, Wolfpack Labs. Known for backing breakout consumer brands, Wolfpack’s involvement brings not just capital but deep strategic support across innovation, franchising, operations, and brand-building.

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With this backing, FES is gearing up for its next phase of aggressive expansion, beginning with its Delhi debut this July, followed by a second outlet in Gurgaon and a Jaipur launch by year-end. The brand plans to scale to over 100 outlets across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities by FY 2027 through a hybrid COCO and FICO model, along with delivery-first hubs and packaged dessert formats to broaden its footprint. Since its inception, FES has carved a niche with its gooey cookies, whipped puddings, alt-ingredient cakes, and seasonal desserts served in vibrant, Gen Z- and Millennial-friendly third spaces. 

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Signature experiences like Coffee Raves and limited-edition menus keep their ever-growing community hooked. In just four months, FES achieved EBITDA-positive status at the company level, saw a 347% spike in delivery revenue, and recorded over 10,000 monthly orders as of June 2025.

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“FES was born out of one belief: desserts deserve better,” says Vidur Mayor, Founder & CEO of FES Cafe.

“With Wolfpack’s backing, we’re building not just a cafe chain, but a national movement powered by community and creativity.” Aakash Anand added, “FES has all the right ingredients—buzz, brand love, business smarts, and a founder with the hustle to go big.”

With a vision that blends indulgence and inclusivity, FES is well on its way to becoming India’s Central Perk of desserts—personal, powerful, and primed for scale.

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