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By Nithyakala Neelakandan
Published on May 30, 2024
The prestigious Callebaut Pâtissier of the Year 2024 competition, showcasing India’s finest pastry talent, recently concluded in Mumbai. This year, Chef Vedangi Gawde was crowned the winner, with Chef Yash Chhabria as the first runner-up and Chef Sandeep Sharma and Chef Nilesh Dewulkar sharing the second runner-up spot.
Callebaut, famed for its high-quality Belgian chocolate, organized the event in collaboration with Taj Lands End as the Hospitality Partner. Now in its third edition, the competition aims to provide a platform for India’s top pastry chefs to showcase their innovative use of chocolate in bakery, pastry, and confectionery creations.
The journey to the finale was marked by remarkable talent and creativity. Pastry chefs from across India participated in regional qualifiers held in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru. The eight finalists—Chef Krishanu Dey, Chef Milan Shoran, Chef Sandeep Sharma, Chef Vedangi Gawde, Chef Anshul Grover, Chef Nilesh Dewulkar, Chef Shashi Kiran, and Chef Yash Chhabria—competed fiercely for the top honors.
Chef Vedangi Gawde, Chef de Partie at Sivako, emerged victorious. Chef Yash Chhabria, Pastry Cook and Co-Founder of Cacaobleu, was the first runner-up. Chef Sandeep Sharma, Demi Chef de Partie at JW Marriott Kolkata, and Chef Nilesh Dewulkar, Pastry Chef at Sofitel BKC, tied for the second runner-up position.
Dhruva Jyoti Sanyal, Managing Director of Barry Callebaut Cocoa & Chocolate Ingredients India, expressed pride in the event's success. He highlighted the competition’s theme, "Craft Your Signature," which encouraged chefs to express their authentic selves through their creations. He praised the participants for their exceptional skill, talent, and passion displayed throughout the competition.
Chef Pratik Deshmukh, Head of Chocolate Academy Mumbai, was thrilled with the level of talent showcased. "Overall, we had a great turnout for the competition. We had the opportunity to taste some really unique flavor combinations as well. The Chefs truly pushed their boundaries through the competition and proudly crafted their signatures. The level of pastry skill has indeed evolved, which was displayed throughout the competition, be it with newer, more efficient methods of working or flavor pairings and techniques used to craft bonbons, entremets, and other creations."
Global Callebaut Creative Lead Chef Minette Smith, who judged the event for the second time, echoed these sentiments. She appreciated the contestants' creativity and their use of local ingredients. She remarked on the difficulty of selecting a winner due to the high level of competition and wished all participants success in their future endeavors.
Chef Vedangi Gawde said, “I am very happy to win the title of the Callebaut Patisserie for the year. This is a very special title for me, and this win means a lot to me.”
The grand finale featured contestants creating exquisite signature dishes across various categories, judged by culinary experts including Chef Minette Smith, Chef Romain Renard, Head of MENA Chocolate Academies, and Chef Arvind Prasad, Ambassador for Callebaut Chocolates in India.
The event was supported by several partners: Taj Lands End as the Hospitality Partner, The Chocolate Academy Mumbai as the Knowledge Partner, KitchenAid as the Appliance Partner, Unox as the Equipment Partner, Elle & Vire Professional and Delta Nutritives as the Ingredient Partners, BW Hotelier as the Media Partner, Zee Zest as the Lifestyle Partner, and VBev as the Celebration Partner.
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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
By Manu Vardhan Kannan
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.
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.
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.”
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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