Chalu Apna Desi Chinese Crowned India’s Biggest Indo-Chinese Brand at Sardar Unity Awards 2025

Chalu Apna Desi Chinese Crowned India’s Biggest Indo-Chinese Brand at Sardar Unity Awards 2025

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on April 19, 2025

Chalu Apna Desi Chinese, the beloved Indian-Chinese restaurant chain known for its unique fusion of Indian spices with traditional Chinese flavors, has been crowned as ‘India’s Biggest Indo-Chinese Brand 2024’ at the prestigious Sardar Patel Unity Awards 2025 in Goa. The award ceremony, held on April 11, 2025, at the Hotel Marriott Resort in Goa, was organized in association with AAJ Tak International and India News, with Lifestyle Magazine as the magazine partner.

The event was graced by distinguished guests, including Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, and Shri Shiv Pratap Shukla, Governor of Himachal Pradesh, both of whom attended as chief guests.

The Sardar Patel Unity Awards, organized by the Topnotch Foundation, honor exceptional contributions in various sectors such as business, health, and education. The 2025 edition upheld this tradition by gathering business leaders and dignitaries to celebrate excellence and innovation.

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The esteemed title of “India’s Biggest Indo-Chinese Brand 2024” was presented to Chalu Apna Desi Chinese by Shri Pramod Sawant, Honourable Chief Minister of Goa, Shri Sripad Nayak, Hon'ble Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy of India, and Mrs. Hema Malini, Hon'ble Member of Parliament. This recognition marked a historic milestone in the brand's journey.

Expressing gratitude for the honor, the founder of Chalu Apna Desi Chinese, Vibhanshu Mishra, said, "Winning this award is incredibly special for me and the entire Chalu Apna Desi Chinese family. We started as a small dream to bring bold, flavorful Indo-Chinese food to every corner of India, but we have been fortunate to expand globally, starting with our first outlet in Ontario, Canada. This acknowledgment fuels our passion even more, and we look forward to growing further. I am immensely thankful to our loyal customers, diligent teams, and everyone who has been part of this journey."

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Founded in 2020, Chalu Apna Desi Chinese has expanded rapidly across India, delighting customers in over 33 cities with more than 200 outlets. The brand has become a household name by blending the rich spices of Indian cooking with the umami flavors of Chinese dishes, offering signature items like Hakka Noodles with a desi twist and aromatic Manchurian curries. Every dish is crafted to offer an explosion of flavors tailored to both Indian and global palates.

The 'India's Biggest Indo-Chinese Brand 2024' award is a testament to Chalu Apna Desi Chinese's impressive growth, commitment to quality, and pioneering spirit in the food sector. The brand’s focus on using fresh, natural ingredients without MSG, palm oil, or artificial enhancers has made it a trendsetter in the culinary industry.

About Chalu Apna Desi Chinese:

Chalu Apna Desi Chinese is a Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) founded by Vibhanshu Mishra. Established in 2020, the brand offers a unique fusion of Indian and Chinese cuisines, combining bold Indian spices with Chinese umami flavors. Known for its fresh, high-quality food, quick service, and home deliveries, Chalu Apna Desi Chinese operates over 33 locations and is celebrated for its “desi twist” on traditional Chinese dishes.


Lucofast Expands Distribution Network Across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai

Lucofast Expands Distribution Network Across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai

By Hariharan U

Published on December 14, 2025

Lucofast Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd., one of India’s fastest-growing hydration drink brands, has announced its official expansion into Mumbai and Navi Mumbai with the launch of a newly established distributor network. The move marks a key milestone in the brand’s growth journey and strengthens its footprint in one of the country’s most competitive FMCG markets.

With this expansion, Lucofast’s full hydration drink range Strawberry Lemonade, Peach and Passion Fruit, and Citrus Orange will now be available across retail stores, gyms, cafés, modern trade outlets, and general trade locations throughout the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

Announcing the expansion, Arif Sharif, Brand Manager, Lucofast Foods and Beverages Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are thrilled to bring Lucofast to Mumbai. In a short span of time, Lucofast has built a strong consumer base across Pune city, and entering Mumbai is a natural step in our expansion strategy. Over the next two months, customers will start seeing Lucofast products widely available across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai as we scale our distribution footprint.”

Lucofast has been witnessing accelerated growth, driven by rising consumer demand for pure, functional, and refreshing hydration beverages. Its non-carbonated, non-caffeinated formulation, enriched with electrolytes and B vitamins, positions the brand as a preferred alternative for consumers seeking sustained energy without the crash associated with traditional energy drinks.

The Mumbai and Navi Mumbai rollout further strengthens Lucofast’s presence across general trade, modern trade, and on-the-go retail formats, supporting the brand’s long-term vision of becoming a hydration-first beverage brand in India.

As Lucofast continues its nationwide expansion, the company remains focused on delivering high-quality, great-tasting hydration solutions tailored to active and everyday lifestyles.

Key Highlights:

  • Launch of a dedicated distributor network across Mumbai and Navi Mumbai

  • Widespread availability expected within the next 60 days

  • Strengthened presence across general trade, modern trade, and fitness-led outlets

  • Reinforces Lucofast’s mission to lead the hydration-focused beverage category in India


Sanjay Dutt’s The Glenwalk Crosses 1.60 Lakh Cases in 2025, Targets 2.70 Lakh by March 2026

Sanjay Dutt’s The Glenwalk Crosses 1.60 Lakh Cases in 2025, Targets 2.70 Lakh by March 2026

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 14, 2025

Sanjay Dutt’s The Glenwalk has marked another major milestone in 2025, crossing 1.60 lakh cases and setting its target at 2.70 lakh cases by March 2026. After emerging as Maharashtra’s No. 1 selling Scotch whisky earlier this year, the brand has continued its rapid growth, supported by strong consumer demand, sharp category insight, and a flavour profile created for the Indian palate. This performance builds on the 60,000 cases the brand sold between April and September 2025, during a time when the global whisky industry saw shifts due to economic changes, regulations, and evolving consumption behaviour.

Entering the final quarter of the year, The Glenwalk strengthened its momentum and expanded from a state-level success to a growing national brand. Its presence across Indian states and duty-free markets has helped accelerate its reach, and the brand is also preparing to introduce a new range of contemporary expressions in the coming year.

Speaking on the brand’s rise, Mokksh Sani, Founder of Living Liquidz & Mansionz and Co-founder of Cartel Bros., said, “2025 has validated everything we believed about The Glenwalk: its craft, its distinct taste, and its resonance with today’s Indian consumer. Crossing 1.60 lakh cases by November is a testament to this momentum, but we are only getting started. With robust demand and clear market opportunities, we are confidently targeting 2.70 lakh cases by March 2026. The Glenwalk is not just growing, it is shaping the future of premium Scotch consumption in India.”

The Glenwalk’s growth has also been backed by a strong portfolio of awards. The brand was named the ‘Most Disruptive Brand of the Year’ at the 8th Talent Track Awards and has earned several global honours, including a Bronze Medal at the London Spirits Awards 2025, Gold and Silver wins at ProWine 2023 and 2024, Silver medals at the London Spirits Competition and the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2024, a Silver Medal at the IWSC 2024, and a Gold at the Spiritz Achiever Awards 2024. These recognitions highlight the contribution of co-founders Mokksh Sani, Jitin Merani, Rohan Nihalani, Manish Sani, and Chief Business Officer Vishal Rajan.

Co-founder Sanjay Dutt added, “Watching The Glenwalk win hearts across India has been incredibly fulfilling. 2025 was a landmark year, and the awards we’ve received reaffirm the passion and precision behind this brand. As we look to 2026, our vision is even stronger, greater reach, deeper consumer connections, and a commitment to delivering a world-class Scotch experience crafted for India.”

As it moves into 2026, The Glenwalk is preparing for its most ambitious growth phase. The brand is experiencing rising demand across on-trade and retail channels and is expanding production, strengthening distributor partnerships, and aiming for deeper penetration in key markets within India and internationally.


Barista Coffee Unveils Festive Hazelnut Menu Across India

Barista Coffee Unveils Festive Hazelnut Menu Across India

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on December 13, 2025

Barista Coffee has introduced a special festive café menu created with premium hazelnuts, bringing the warmth and flavours of winter to its outlets across India. The menu has been launched in collaboration with Hazelnuts for India, an initiative focused on promoting high-quality hazelnuts in the country. As part of the campaign titled “Go HazelNUTS with Barista,” the new offerings will be available across 150 Barista cafés in major metro cities.

The exclusive festive menu was unveiled at a special launch event held at Barista’s flagship café in Vasant Vihar, New Delhi. The event offered guests an immersive tasting experience, showcasing the entire range in a cosy café setting themed around coffee and hazelnuts. The limited-edition menu features the Hazelnut Crunchy Frappe, Hazelnut Dry Latte, Hazelnut Matcha Tea Cake, and Hazelnut Chocolate Tart, each made using premium hazelnuts known for their rich flavour and texture. The menu will be available from 1st December 2025 to 28th February 2026.

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Speaking at the launch, Mansi Ahuja, Hazelnuts India Representative, AMPRO Marketing, said, “Go HazelNUTS with Barista campaign aims to place hazelnuts at the heart of the café experience. Through Hazelnuts for India, we want guests to discover hazelnuts in multiple forms, in their coffee, in their desserts and in their everyday indulgences, offering a healthy indulgent twist to their choices. The encouraging response at the launch reinforces our belief that hazelnuts have a natural place in India’s evolving café culture.”

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Rajat Agrawal, CEO, Barista Coffee Company, added, “We’ve always enjoyed experimenting with flavours and finding new ways to make every coffee moment feel a little more special. Over the years, our menu has continuously evolved to bring fresh, exciting, and premium tastes to coffee lovers across the country. Our new hazelnut-inspired offerings are another step in surprising our customers with choices that elevate their everyday moments. At Barista, we’re committed to pushing boundaries and creating café experiences that feel both comfortingly familiar and refreshingly new.”

The collaboration highlights the versatility of hazelnuts while strengthening Barista’s role as a preferred destination for festive indulgence and gifting. With this seasonal menu, Barista adds a warm and flavourful touch to the winter months, bringing a delightful café experience to guests across India.

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