F&B Industry's Aspirations for Union Budget 2025

F&B Industry's Aspirations for Union Budget 2025

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 9, 2025

As the Union Budget 2025 nears, the food and beverage (F&B) industry is abuzz with expectations and hopes. Experts from the sector, including Simranjeet Singh, Director of CYK Hospitalities, Nidhi Singh, Co-Founder of Samosa Singh, and Vikesh Shah, Founder of 99 Pancakes, have shared their insights on the reforms they believe are essential to spur growth and innovation.

Simranjeet Singh emphasizes the need for policies that promote innovation and sustainability. "The upcoming Union Budget 2025 is expected to bring reforms for start-ups and the F&B sector, such as simplified taxation like GST rate cuts on small eateries and essentials. These measures can alleviate financial stress," he stated. Singh also highlighted the importance of subsidies on eco-friendly packaging, increased support for food processing facilities to generate rural jobs, and policy-driven investments in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities to foster innovation in agri-tech, health-tech, and green-tech.

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Nidhi Singh envisions the budget as a game-changer for startups. "Swiftly approved policies simplifying taxation and promoting sustainable practices can fuel startup growth," she shared. Nidhi also stressed the significance of reduced taxes on essential supplies, support for cold-chain infrastructure, and encouragement for local sourcing, which could enhance operational efficiency and product quality. She believes these measures would create a thriving and resilient ecosystem for startups.

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For Vikesh Shah, the focus lies on operational cost reduction and scalability. "The F&B sector faces challenges like rising input costs. Tax relief on sustainable packaging and lower GST on dining services could make a substantial difference," he explained. Shah is optimistic that the adoption of advanced kitchen technologies, driven by supportive policies, will boost efficiency and enable brands to enhance customer experiences while contributing to economic growth.

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The Union Budget 2025 holds the potential to address these aspirations, fostering a dynamic and innovative environment for the F&B sector while promoting sustainability and economic development.


Why Hotels Are Upgrading from Projectors to Touch Interactive Displays

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on February 26, 2026

Conference rooms and meeting spaces in hotels have evolved beyond being just rooms with a screen. Today’s corporate guests expect speed, clarity, interaction, and an impressive experience. To meet these expectations, many leading hotels are moving away from traditional projectors and upgrading to Touch Interactive Displays offered by Palaniappa Electronics, featuring trusted brands like Samsung, Raptor, and Teachmint.

Projectors have long been used in meeting rooms, but they come with familiar challenges. Dim visuals, frequent lamp replacements, alignment problems, shadows on the screen, and the need for darkened rooms often affect the overall experience. Touch Interactive Displays address these issues by delivering bright and clear visuals that work well even in well-lit spaces. They also require minimal maintenance, making them practical for busy hotel environments.

These displays function much like a giant tablet mounted on the wall. Presenters can write, draw, zoom, and annotate directly on the screen while explaining ideas in real time. This makes discussions more interactive and easier to follow, especially for participants who prefer visual explanations. Meetings become more dynamic, encouraging better collaboration.

Advanced models come with built-in cameras and microphones, making video conferencing smoother and more engaging. Features such as voice tracking and automatic zoom on the active speaker create a professional setup that leaves a strong impression on corporate clients and board-level meetings. It adds a clear wow factor to hotel conference facilities.

The technology also replaces traditional whiteboards. Users can write on the screen, record discussions live, convert notes into PDFs, and share them instantly via email. This eliminates the need to take photos of whiteboards and ensures that discussions are properly documented and shared without delay.

Another key advantage is wireless connectivity. Guests can cast content from their laptops, tablets, or mobiles directly onto the display without cables. They can also receive shared content back to their devices. This bring-your-own-device flexibility makes meetings smooth and avoids technical confusion.

For hotels, this upgrade increases the perceived value of conference and meeting spaces. It helps attract premium corporate bookings, training programs, and international conferences, while simplifying operations for hotel teams.

What sets the implementation apart is the guidance provided by Palaniappa Electronics. The team studies room size, expected usage, audience profile, and budget before recommending the right product for the right application. With customization options and dependable after-sales support, hotels receive solutions tailored to their needs rather than a standard package.

Palaniappa electronics brings world class brands and their quality products that hit the show in the world of hospitality based electronics. from massive electronics objects to smart tiny products, Palaniappa electronics is the one name to acquire everything about hospitality oriented electronics.

For hotels looking to future-proof their meeting spaces, Touch Interactive Displays are quickly becoming the new standard. Those still relying on projectors can explore a customized demo with Palaniappa Electronics to understand how interactive displays can transform their conference rooms.

For more details, contact Palaniappa Electronics | Mr. Muthu at 9003045685 or muthu@palaniappagroup.com.


Kosala Opens Flagship Store in Delhi, Strengthening Kosa Silk Revival

Kosala Opens Flagship Store in Delhi, Strengthening Kosa Silk Revival

By Author

Published on February 26, 2026

Kosala, the social enterprise of Hindalco Industries Limited, has inaugurated its first flagship retail store in Greater Kailash (N Block), New Delhi, marking a significant step in expanding its Kosa silk value-chain initiative rooted in Chhattisgarh.

 Launched in 2021 to revive and scale the indigenous Kosa silk craft of the Dewangan community, Kosala has steadily built a rural enterprise model that integrates skill development, infrastructure support and market access. The boutique was inaugurated by Rajashree Birla, Chairperson of the Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development, in the presence of Satish Pai, Managing Director of Hindalco Industries Limited,

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Saurabh Khedekar, CEO – Alumina Business, Hindalco and Director, Kosala Foundation, along with actor Yami Gautam Dhar. Speaking at the launch, Rajashree Birla said, "Kosala reflects our deep commitment to trusteeship, nurturing communities while preserving India's rich cultural heritage. By revitalising the art of Kosa silk, we are empowering artisan families, especially women, with sustainable livelihoods and renewed pride in their craft. This store serves as a bridge between rural skill and global appreciation."

In FY25, 31 weaver families secured full-time engagement, 130 artisans were employed across pre-loom and post-loom processes, and full-time weavers recorded a 63% rise in income. During the year, 379 artisans were engaged and 100 newly skilled, taking the total number empowered since inception to over 700. Saurabh Khedekar added, "Kosala is anchored in two core beliefs, reviving the indigenous legacy of Kosa silk and restoring economic dignity, recognition, and continuous skill advancement to its original custodians, the Dewangan community. This store is not merely a retail milestone; it reaffirms our long-term commitment to strengthening the artisan ecosystem and enabling weaver families to thrive with pride and purpose." Capacity-building programmes include dyeing, embroidery, reeling certification and advanced weaving training, reinforcing Kosala’s commitment to sustainable livelihoods and heritage preservation


Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai Launches ‘Celebrating Her’ Women’s Day Spa Experience

Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai Launches ‘Celebrating Her’ Women’s Day Spa Experience

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on February 26, 2026

This Women’s Day, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai is celebrating women with a spa experience that feels meaningful, calming, and deeply personal. Titled ‘Celebrating Her’, the limited-period offering is available throughout the month of March, and is designed to honour the strength, warmth, and resilience women bring into every space they step into.

Set within the serene environment of the hotel’s spa, the 150-minute experience is thoughtfully created as uninterrupted time for self-care. The journey begins with a gentle foot cleanse to help guests unwind and ease into the experience. This is followed by a 60-minute customised massage focused on releasing tension and restoring balance to the body.

The treatment continues with a personalised 60-minute facial, tailored to refresh the skin and enhance its natural glow. Throughout the session, mindful breathing and light stretches are subtly incorporated, encouraging relaxation and presence. The experience concludes with a nourishing closing ritual, leaving guests feeling calm, restored, and genuinely cared for.

Sharing the thought behind the offering, Nitesh Gandhi, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, said, “Women give so much of themselves every single day. This month is about recognising that and creating a space where they can simply pause, feel appreciated and focus on their own wellbeing.”

Available all month long in March, ‘Celebrating Her’ reflects the hotel’s focus on thoughtful wellness experiences that go beyond indulgence, offering women a chance to slow down and reconnect with themselves in a peaceful setting in Mumbai.

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