MEWA India 2025 Concludes with Huge Success, Uniting 300+ Global Exhibitors

MEWA India 2025 Concludes with Huge Success, Uniting 300+ Global Exhibitors

By Nishang Narayan

Published on February 18, 2025

MEWA India 2025, the premier B2B exhibition for the nuts and dry fruits sector, concluded its highly successful three-day event at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai. Held from February 12th to 14th, this year's event surpassed expectations, drawing over 300 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors from more than 25 countries—a remarkable 66.67% increase from the previous year.

Building on the success of MEWA 2024, which welcomed 6,000 visitors and 130 exhibitors, MEWA India 2025 showcased the significant growth in the global demand for nuts and dry fruits, particularly as healthy snack alternatives. As consumers worldwide seek more nutritious food options, the nuts and dry fruits industry is positioning itself as a key player in the health-conscious food movement.

Mr. Sameer Bhanushali, Founding Member of the Nuts & Dry Fruits Council of India (NDFC(I)), discussed the challenges facing the sector, including price volatility, supply chain disruptions, and global economic impacts. He noted, “The nuts and dry fruits market in India is projected to grow by 5.97%, reaching a volume of US$13.27 billion by 2030. While urban populations are increasingly opting for healthier options like pistachios, almonds, and foxnuts, the sector still faces several developmental challenges. MEWA 2025 aimed to address these issues and foster international partnerships to drive industry growth.”

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The exhibition floor was a hub of innovation, with leading industry players from across the globe, including Crain Walnut, Wonderful Pistachios from the USA, Kimia Dates from Iran, Blue Diamond—the world’s largest almond exporter—and Al Mehtab from Dubai. Industry experts also participated in a panel discussion focused on the role of advanced technology in streamlining the sector, as well as policies for the import and export of nuts and dry fruits in India.

MEWA India 2025 served as a crucial platform for networking and building trade connections, allowing businesses to explore new opportunities and collaborate on expanding their reach within the global market.

Mr. Rajeev Pabreja, Founding Member of NDFC(I) and Co-Chairperson of MEWA 2025, emphasized the importance of the event, saying, “MEWA India 2025 is a vital event for promoting quality, innovation, and growth in the nuts and dry fruits sector. It positions India as a global leader and offers networking opportunities that can fuel business expansion and foster collaborative growth.”

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The event was graced by several high-profile personalities, including Smt. Smriti Irani, Former Union Cabinet Minister, who delivered a keynote address. Bollywood singer Jonita Gandhi’s performance added to the glamour, while actress Genelia D’souza, promoting her plant-based meat company, Imagine Meats, also made a special appearance.

MEWA India 2025 highlighted the strategic role of marketing boards and the continued efforts to promote the nuts and dry fruits industry. With high expectations for next year, MEWA is excited to return with even more opportunities and participants, solidifying its position as a key global player in the sector.

About MEWA

MEWA is India’s foremost B2B exhibition for the nuts and dry fruits industry, bringing together participants from over 50 countries. With 300+ exhibitors and 10,000+ attendees, MEWA 2025 is poised to elevate the sector by fostering advancements in research, innovation, production, trade, and consumption, positioning India as a global leader in the industry.

About NDFC(I)

The Nuts & Dry Fruits Council of India (NDFC(I)) is the unified voice of the Indian nuts, dry fruits, seeds, raisins, berries, and dates industry. Its mission is to drive growth and collaboration across all facets of the sector, from growers to processors to distributors.


Barbeque Nation Hosts Odia Food Fest ‘Odia Trails’ With Chef Abinas Nayak

Barbeque Nation Hosts Odia Food Fest ‘Odia Trails’ With Chef Abinas Nayak

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on January 28, 2026

Barbeque Nation is hosting an Odia food festival titled ‘Odia Trails’, celebrating the rich and diverse culinary heritage of Odisha. The festival features a specially curated menu by renowned chef and Masterchef India – Season 6 winner, Abinas Nayak, bringing regional flavours to diners through a thoughtfully crafted buffet experience.

Odia Trails offers a gastronomic journey through authentic Odisha cuisine, blending timeless street-style favourites with traditional regional specialities. The festival showcases a wide variety of dishes including the much-loved Dahi Pakhala, Chhena Poda, Mutton Aloo Aloo, Dalma, and several other classic preparations that reflect the soul of Odia cooking.

Sharing his thoughts on the collaboration, Chef Abinas Nayak (Masterchef India Season 6 winner) commented, “ I’m privileged to be a part of Barbeque Nation’s Odia food festival – Odia Trails, where I would be crafting iconic dishes from the Odisha cuisine. The widespread buffet is an amalgamation of diverse and flavourful cuisine, combining aromatic spices, fresh ingredients, and traditional cooking techniques.”

The Odia Trails festival highlights the vibrant flavours inspired by Odisha’s seasons and street food culture, presented through Barbeque Nation’s all-you-can-eat buffet format. Designed for food enthusiasts keen to explore regional delicacies, the spread combines fusion-based cooking with heritage Odia recipes curated by Chef Abinas Nayak.

The festival is being hosted at Barbeque Nation’s Marathahalli outlet, offering guests an opportunity to experience the depth and diversity of Odia cuisine in a familiar and interactive dining setting.


Dakshin Legacy Opens in Mumbai as a Tribute to South India’s Coastal Culinary Heritage

Dakshin Legacy Opens in Mumbai as a Tribute to South India’s Coastal Culinary Heritage

By Hariharan U

Published on January 28, 2026

Mumbai’s dining landscape welcomes a new heritage-driven destination with the opening of Dakshin Legacy, a fine-dining restaurant devoted exclusively to the coastal cuisines of South India. Rooted in tradition and guided by emotion, the restaurant brings together age-old recipes, soulful hospitality, and thoughtful design to create an experience that preserves culinary heritage rather than reinventing it.

Positioned as Mumbai’s only fine-dining restaurant focused solely on coastal South Indian food, Dakshin Legacy showcases flavours from Mangalore, Kerala, Goa, and Tamil Nadu. Each dish is prepared exactly as it has been for generations, following traditional methods such as stone-ground masalas, clay-pot slow simmering, hand-pressed coconut milk, and banana-leaf steaming. Regional spices sourced directly from the southern coastline ensure the food remains bold, honest, and deeply rooted, with no fusion, shortcuts, or dilution of flavour.

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The culinary programme is led by Chef Nagesh, whose approach is grounded in patience, memory, and deep respect for tradition. Every curry, masala, and seafood preparation follows ancestral techniques, allowing flavours to develop naturally and authentically. The menu highlights the diversity of coastal cooking through signature dishes such as Crab Chettinad, Pomfret Gassi with freshly ground coconut masala, Prawns Ghee Roast, Surmai Masala Fry, and Clams Sukka, where roasted spices and fresh coconut come together in perfect balance.

Complementing the cuisine is Dakshin Legacy’s coastal-inspired bar programme led by Dharmendar Prajapati, who reimagines familiar South Indian flavours into contemporary cocktails. Using ingredients such as kokum, fresh fruits, herbs, and gentle spices, the cocktail menu adds a playful yet rooted dimension to the dining experience. Standout serves include Reddy on the Rocks, Chiranjeevi Kidu, Bahubali Burst, Lungi Dance, and Rajni Kudampuli, each reflecting regional influences with modern technique.

The restaurant’s interiors, designed by founder and hotelier Harshita Shetty, are a warm tribute to South India’s coastal homes. Spread across 4,800 sq. ft. with seating for 150 guests, the space features teakwood and cane accents, brass and bell-metal details, antique Mangalorean window frames, banana-leaf-inspired motifs, and handloom-style textures. A calming palette of ivory, sandalwood, deep green, and gold creates an atmosphere that transitions seamlessly from relaxed lunches to refined evening dining.

With Dakshin Legacy, I wanted to create a space that feels like a homecoming, where the warmth of coastal tradition meets the polish of fine dining. The design doesn’t reinvent heritage; it preserves it with heart,” said Harshita Shetty.

Open for both lunches and dinners, Dakshin Legacy is envisioned as a destination for family gatherings, professional meetings, and celebratory dining alike. Led by Harshita Shetty, a Les Roches–trained second-generation hotelier, the restaurant reflects a deeply personal journey that blends global hospitality expertise with cultural responsibility.

With its uncompromising authenticity, evocative storytelling, and elevated dining experience, Dakshin Legacy offers Mumbai a timeless destination that celebrates the flavours, memories, and enduring legacy of South India’s coastal cuisine, one plate at a time.


Sip the Seasons: Anardana Unveils Its Signature Cocktail Collection

Sip the Seasons: Anardana Unveils Its Signature Cocktail Collection

By Hariharan U

Published on January 28, 2026

Anardana has unveiled a new signature cocktail collection that draws inspiration from iconic street cuisines across India and select global destinations. Designed with a global outlook and an Indian soul, the collection reimagines familiar street flavours through classic cocktail techniques, bold ingredients and layered profiles, creating drinks that feel both nostalgic and contemporary.

Each cocktail has been crafted to pair seamlessly with Anardana’s dining experience, offering guests a journey through flavours that are expressive, comforting and inventive. Among the highlights is Banarasi Paan, an aromatic blend of gin and rosso vermouth with gulkand and betel leaves, capturing the sweetness, spice and ceremonial charm of Banaras in a refined, modern form.

Kaapi Time brings together whiskey, South Indian filter coffee, coconut and brown sugar, delivering warmth and depth with a soulful finish. The Phirni Tini offers an indulgent reinterpretation of the beloved dessert, presented as a clarified, creamy and delicately balanced cocktail. Adding a bold, umami-forward edge is Samurai’s Sip, which combines whiskey with gari, passion fruit and ponzu for a playful yet complex profile.

Completing the signature selection is Tuscan Sunset, a fresh and herbaceous cocktail featuring gin, basil, olive, tomato and coconut, evoking relaxed Mediterranean afternoons in every sip.

Balancing innovation with familiarity, the menu also features timeless classics. The crisp Dark ’n Stormy pairs dark rum with ginger beer for a spicy, refreshing finish, while the elegant Cosmopolitan blends vodka, orange liqueur, lime and cranberry for effortless sophistication. The ever-popular LIIT (500 ml) brings together vodka, gin, rum, tequila and triple sec with lime and cola, making it bold, festive and ideal for sharing.

Carefully composed and expressive, Anardana’s cocktail collection invites guests to slow down, savour and explore, reinforcing the brand’s focus on flavour-led storytelling through food and drink.

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