NDFC(I) announces the 2nd Edition of MEWA 2025, a three-day exhibition for Nuts and Dry Fruits

NDFC(I) announces the 2nd Edition of MEWA 2025, a three-day exhibition for Nuts and Dry Fruits

By Author

Published on January 23, 2025

The Nuts and Dry Fruits Council of India (NDFC[I]) proudly announces the 2nd edition of MEWA 2025, a groundbreaking three-day B2B exhibition dedicated to the nuts and dry fruits industry. Scheduled from February 12th to 14th, 2025, at the Jio Convention Center in Mumbai, this event promises to redefine the industry’s trajectory by fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth.

Key Highlights of MEWA 2025:

  • Over 300 exhibitors from 50+ countries, including major markets like the USA, Chile, Iran, Turkey, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Australia.

  • Expansive exhibition space of 10,000+ square meters showcasing diverse offerings.

  • Focus on addressing key industry challenges and opportunities, particularly in the Indian market.

  • Projections of the dry fruits market reaching $12 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR of 18%.

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Industry Insights 

Speaking at the press conference, Mr. Yash Gawdi, Co-Chairperson of MEWA 2025, highlighted the importance of the event, stating: “The dry fruits market is set to witness exponential growth, driven by increased consumer awareness and demand for health-conscious products. MEWA 2025 aims to tackle industry challenges, enhance visibility, and establish global partnerships.”

Mr. Gunjan Jain, President of NDFC(I), emphasized the need for focused efforts in streamlining the sector: “India is among the top 10 producers of walnuts, with Kerala and Karnataka leading in cashew production. However, issues like land fragmentation and high interest rates hinder large-scale farming. MEWA 2025 is a pivotal initiative to bring industry stakeholders together and address these challenges through innovation and collaboration.”

Building on the Success of the 1st Edition

The inaugural MEWA event in 2024 was a resounding success, attracting 6,000 visitors and featuring 130+ exhibitors from 20 countries. With an impressive 80% business conversion rate, MEWA 2024 set a high benchmark for trade and networking opportunities. The 2nd edition aims to elevate these achievements, offering an even more vibrant platform for showcasing products, sharing insights, and forging partnerships.

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Trends in Health-Conscious Consumption

Highlighting current consumer trends, Mr. Deepak Agarwal, Secretary of NDFC(I), remarked: “As 91% of Indians seek nutritious alternatives, the demand for nuts and dry fruits continues to surge. MEWA 2025 is designed to bridge gaps in the industry, addressing consumer needs with innovative and sustainable solutions.”

To promote health-conscious choices, MEWA 2025 will collaborate with Indian cricketers and Bollywood stars to endorse the benefits of nuts and dry fruits, aiming to inspire younger generations toward healthier lifestyles.

Industry Initiatives and Future Outlook

MEWA 2025 will also focus on sustainability and production enhancement. Key initiatives include:

  • Walnut plantation drives in Chakrata, Uttarakhand.

  • Collaboration with AICA to sign an MOU for cashew plantation and plant distribution.

  • Strategies to boost international participation and streamline industry practices.

NDFC(I) remains committed to unifying the sector and providing a robust platform for growth, innovation, and sustainability. “The goal is not only to elevate the industry but also to celebrate the diversity and richness of nuts, dates, and dry fruits in India,” added Mr. Jain.

About MEWA 2025

Website: https://mewaindia.in/

MEWA 2025 is an international platform spotlighting the latest advancements in research, innovation, production, trade, and consumption within the nuts and dry fruits sector. With participants from 50+ countries, 300+ exhibitors, and 10,000+ attendees, MEWA 2025 promises to be the premier showcase of the industry’s finest offerings.

About NDFC(I)

Website: https://ndfci.org/

The Nuts and Dry Fruits Council of India (NDFC[I]) serves as the unified voice for stakeholders across the nuts, dry fruits, seeds, raisins, berries, and dates industries in India. From growers to processors and distributors, NDFC(I) fosters unity and collaboration to drive progress and innovation.

Join us at MEWA 2025 to be part of this transformative journey, shaping the future of the nuts and dry fruits industry while celebrating its vibrant heritage.


Bountyful Opens in Bengaluru, Celebrating India's Overlooked Regional Cuisines

Bountyful Opens in Bengaluru, Celebrating India's Overlooked Regional Cuisines

By Hariharan U

Published on October 23, 2026

Bountyful has opened in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, bringing lesser-known regional Indian dishes to the restaurant table through a vegetarian menu inspired by the country's diverse culinary traditions.

The new restaurant explores approximately 18–20 regional cuisines, moving beyond familiar restaurant staples to highlight everyday food, traditional ingredients and cooking techniques associated with homes, hill villages and small-town kitchens across India.

Built around the idea of abundance and shared experiences, Bountyful focuses on the kind of comforting, home-style food that often remains absent from mainstream restaurant menus. The offering brings together humble everyday preparations and regional specialities in a contemporary setting designed to feel warm, relaxed and inviting.

The menu features dishes such as Hari Moong Dal, Bihari Sattu, Malai Gatta, Bhapa Paneer and Khatte Nadru, alongside soups including Himalayan Thukpa and Tomato Tulsi Rasa. The salad selection includes Green Moong Raw Mango Salad, adding fresh and tangy flavours to the vegetarian spread.

Drinks form another part of the restaurant's regional approach. The selection includes spiced and tangy combinations inspired by ingredients such as kokum, jeera, coriander and chilli, alongside zero-proof creations featuring distinctive flavour profiles. Sweeter options inspired by paan, rose and thandai complement the menu.

The dessert selection includes Kesar Bhapa Doi, a Bengali classic, Rose Milk Cake and Gud Til Chocolate Mousse. Together, the food and beverage offerings aim to showcase the range of flavours found across India's regional kitchens, from savoury and spice-led preparations to familiar traditional sweets.

Speaking about the opening, Pallavii Gupta, Founder, Bountyful, said, “Bountyful is built on memories of the comforting hills, towns and regions across India. It's a true celebration of regional food, familiar ingredients and unfamiliar dishes.”

She added that the name reflects the restaurant's sense of abundance, while its contemporary environment draws inspiration from traditional Indian architecture and patterns derived from everyday cooking vessels. The intention, she said, was to create a dining experience that feels modern while retaining the warmth and familiarity associated with Indian hospitality.

The interiors combine murals, layered materials, lighting and subtle decorative details to create an expressive space with a lived-in character. The restaurant accommodates 40 guests and is intended for diners looking to explore regional food in an informal setting.

By placing everyday dishes alongside less familiar regional preparations, Bountyful adds another dimension to Bengaluru's dining scene, bringing attention to food traditions that are often overshadowed by more widely recognised Indian restaurant dishes.

Restaurant Details

  • Restaurant: Bountyful

  • Location: Indiranagar, Bengaluru

  • Cuisine: Vegetarian, regional Indian

  • Seating Capacity: 40 guests

  • Timings: 12 PM–4 PM and 7 PM–11 PM

  • Weekly Off: Monday


Chins Bar, Coffee & Kitchen Opens on Lavelle Road with 400-Seat All-Day Experience

Chins Bar, Coffee & Kitchen Opens on Lavelle Road with 400-Seat All-Day Experience

By Hariharan U

Published on October 23, 2026

Chins Bar, Coffee & Kitchen is set to open on Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, introducing a 400-seater, three-floor destination that brings together specialty coffee, global cuisine, cocktails, beer and music under one roof. An evolution of Chinlung, the new venue is designed to adapt to the city's changing pace, moving from daytime coffee and dining to evening drinks and late-night gatherings.

Planned to operate from 11 AM to 1 AM, Chins will introduce breakfast after its first month of operations, extending its hours to 8 AM to 1 AM. The all-day concept brings distinct dining and social spaces together, catering to different occasions throughout the day.

Three Floors, Three Experiences

Spread across three floors, the venue gives each level a distinct identity. The ground floor houses the coffee bar, designed for quick caffeine stops, leisurely brews and informal meetings. The first floor is dedicated to the kitchen and dining, offering a setting for casual meals and longer conversations.

The third floor houses the bar, with cocktails, beer, spirits and music shaping the atmosphere as the day moves into the evening.

A Global Menu with Coastal and Asian Influences

Chins' food menu brings together a range of cuisines, spanning sushi, dim sum and bao, Asian favourites, Indian grills, coastal preparations, pizzas, pastas and comforting mains.

Highlights include Sesame Greens, Burrata Ponzu Salad, Ponzu Butter Dimsum, Mushroom Katsu Bao, Thai Chilli Prawns and Bengali Five Spice Chicken. The Indian selection features Ghee Roast, Chicken Sukka and Coastal Prawn Curry, adding regional flavours to the broader menu.

The varied offering is designed to accommodate different dining preferences, from casual meals and shared plates to longer gatherings centred on food and drinks.

Coffee at the Centre of the Daytime Experience

Coffee plays a central role in the daytime offering, with the Victoria Arduino Eagle One NEO serving as the centrepiece of the coffee bar. Custom-crafted in white with warm wooden accents, the Italian-engineered machine uses NEO technology for precision extraction, with an emphasis on reducing energy consumption and waste.

The equipment supports the coffee programme throughout the day, from morning flat whites to late-night Espresso Martinis, bringing the coffee and bar experiences together within the same venue.

As evening approaches, the focus shifts towards cocktails, spirits and beer. The cocktail programme is designed around distinctive yet approachable drinks that complement the food, music and social atmosphere.

Discovering the World of Finding Chins

Adding an interactive element to the venue is Finding Chins, a concept built around discovery. The Chins mascot appears throughout the space in hidden graphics, illustrations, mirrors and objects, encouraging guests to look for details as they explore the venue.

The concept adds a playful dimension to the dining and drinking experience, giving visitors new elements to discover across repeat visits.

Speaking about the opening, Prajwal Lokesh, Managing Director, Chins Bar, Coffee & Kitchen, said the new destination builds on the community Chinlung has developed in Bengaluru while introducing a contemporary setting for coffee, food, cocktails and socialising.

He described Chins as an evolution of the existing brand, with a curated cocktail programme and an experience designed to encourage guests to return.

With its three-floor layout, broad culinary offering and combination of coffee, dining and nightlife, Chins Bar, Coffee & Kitchen adds a new all-day format to Lavelle Road's dining and social scene.

Venue Details

  • Venue: Chins Bar, Coffee & Kitchen

  • Location: Lavelle Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka

  • Timings: 11 AM–1 AM

  • Breakfast: Planned from 8 AM after the first month of operations

  • Seating Capacity: 400

  • Cuisine: Global cuisine, coffee and bar bites

  • Reservations: 063603 82176


IHCL’s Soulinaire Curates Bespoke Festive Catering Experiences Across India

IHCL’s Soulinaire Curates Bespoke Festive Catering Experiences Across India

By Hariharan U

Published on October 23, 2026

Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL) is bringing its signature lifestyle catering brand, Soulinaire, to festive celebrations across India, offering bespoke menus and experiential dining formats for occasions ranging from intimate Diwali gatherings to weddings and corporate events.

Established in 2019, Soulinaire draws on IHCL’s culinary heritage and hospitality expertise to create personalised dining experiences tailored to the occasion, venue and host’s preferences. Its festive offering combines curated menus, artistic presentation and attentive service, positioning food as an integral part of seasonal entertaining.

Bespoke Menus and Experiential Dining

Soulinaire’s culinary repertoire spans contemporary Indian, regional Indian, Asian, European and international cuisines. Menus are developed around individual preferences and the nature of each celebration, with an emphasis on flavour, presentation and culinary craftsmanship.

The brand offers a range of dining formats, including interactive live cooking stations, flying buffets, grazing tables and chef-led experiences. Live stations add an element of theatre to celebrations, while flying buffets provide a flexible format for social gatherings. Grazing tables combine curated food selections with visual presentation, complementing the setting and style of the event.

These formats can be arranged individually or in combination, depending on the venue, scale of the gathering and host’s requirements. The approach allows Soulinaire to cater to different styles of entertaining, from relaxed home celebrations to larger festive soirées and formal occasions.

Catering for Festive Gatherings, Weddings and Corporate Events

With the festive season bringing families and friends together, Soulinaire is offering catering experiences for Diwali parties, private gatherings, wedding functions, outdoor celebrations and corporate occasions.

Each experience is planned around the host’s vision, with menu selection, dining formats, presentation and guest service considered as part of the overall event. The emphasis is on creating a cohesive experience in which culinary offerings complement the occasion rather than function as a standalone service.

Soulinaire is accepting festive and outdoor catering enquiries across Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, Udaipur and select locations in Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh; Ahmedabad and other locations in Gujarat; Mumbai, Alibaug and other destinations across Maharashtra; Bengaluru; and Kolkata. Service availability is subject to confirmation based on the destination, venue and specific event requirements.

By combining culinary creativity with IHCL’s hospitality expertise, Soulinaire aims to offer hosts a personalised approach to festive entertaining, with food, presentation and service designed around the character of each celebration.

About Soulinaire

Established in 2019, Soulinaire is IHCL’s signature lifestyle catering brand, offering bespoke culinary and hospitality experiences for weddings, private gatherings, corporate events and special occasions. The brand brings together diverse cuisines, contemporary culinary creativity and thoughtful presentation to create tailored dining experiences.

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