Saurabh Wadkar and Teja Chekuri Talk Reforms for Sustainable Growth in F&B

Saurabh Wadkar and Teja Chekuri Talk Reforms for Sustainable Growth in F&B

By Nishang Narayan

Published on January 23, 2025

As the Union Budget 2025 approaches, prominent voices in India’s Food & Beverage (F&B) sector have highlighted key reforms that could transform the industry. Leaders Saurabh Wadkar, Founder of Rooted, and Teja Chekuri, Founder of Full Stack Ventures, shared their insights on the policies they believe are crucial for the sustainable growth of the F&B, restaurant, and food delivery sectors.

Saurabh Wadkar, Founder of Rooted: A Call for GST Reforms and Support for Small Businesses

image

"The Union Budget 2025 offers a golden opportunity to uplift India’s restaurant and food delivery sector, especially for small businesses that are the heart of this industry," says Saurabh Wadkar.

He emphasizes the following:

  • Reinstating Input Tax Credit (ITC): This could significantly lower operational costs and improve profitability for restaurants and cloud kitchens.
  • GST Rate Reduction to 12%: Aligning GST rates with global standards would enhance competitiveness, benefiting both restaurants and food delivery services.
  • Infrastructure Status for Ghost Kitchens: Recognizing ghost kitchens and food delivery ventures could pave the way for affordable loans and tax benefits, enabling entrepreneurs in smaller cities to thrive.
  • Incentives for Technology Adoption: Encouraging the use of technology would help small players streamline operations, reduce costs, and achieve sustainable growth.
  • Culinary Tourism Initiatives: Promoting regional cuisines would not only boost local restaurants but also spotlight India’s rich food heritage.

"With thoughtful measures like these, the Budget could transform the sector, creating opportunities for small businesses to flourish and strengthening their role as drivers of jobs, culture, and economic growth," he concludes.

Teja Chekuri, Founder of Full Stack Ventures: A Need for Licensing Simplification

image

Echoing the importance of reforms, Teja Chekuri emphasizes the F&B sector’s critical contribution to the economy, stating:
"The F&B, Restaurant, and Alco-Bev sectors are among the highest employment creators in India, promoting consumption, tourism, and economic growth across connected industries."

Chekuri highlights the urgent need for pro-public reforms, such as:

  • Simplifying Licensing Systems: The current multi-layered process creates roadblocks that hinder growth. A single-window process would streamline approvals and foster a more vibrant business environment.
  • Encouraging Investment: Actionable reforms would attract investments, promote innovation, and drive long-term economic growth.
  • Leveraging Technology: With the world becoming increasingly interconnected, technology-driven solutions would support the sector’s sustained growth and improve global competitiveness.

"A futuristic approach to licensing and reforms will not only boost growth but also expose the vibrancy of India’s thriving F&B sector to the world," Chekuri affirms.

A Vision for Sustainable Growth

As leaders like Wadkar and Chekuri voice their expectations, it’s clear that the Union Budget 2025 has the potential to address key challenges in the F&B sector, from simplifying compliance to incentivizing sustainable practices. With these reforms, the industry could unlock its full potential, contributing to India’s economic growth while preserving its rich culinary heritage.


Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Reports Rs 13 Crore Net Profit in Q1 FY26

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 18, 2025

Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels Limited (ASPHL) announced its financial results for Q1 FY26, recording a net profit of Rs 13 crore. Revenue from operations stood at Rs 154 crore, a 14% increase year-on-year, while operating EBITDA grew 16% YoY to Rs 45 crore. The company maintained an industry-leading occupancy of 92%, reaffirming its leadership in the hospitality sector.

ASPHL’s growth is fueled by expansion into Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets. The company recently signed an MoU to acquire and manage four leisure properties in Goa, Manali, Shimla, and Dharamshala, adding 138 rooms under its brand. These steps align with ASPHL’s strategy to broaden its presence in high-potential tourism destinations and double its key count to 5,750 over the next five years.

Flurys, ASPHL’s iconic bakery and confectionery brand, now operates 102 outlets nationwide, reflecting the company’s focus on expanding its market presence while integrating modern amenities with rich cultural heritage.

Commenting on the performance, Vijay Dewan, Managing Director, Apeejay Surrendra Park Hotels, said,

"We have delivered an extraordinary and best-ever Q1, setting a strong momentum for the year ahead. With topline growth of 14% and EBITDA growth of 16%, we recorded India’s highest occupancy of 92% and maintained leadership in RevPAR in the upper-upscale segment. ARR improved by 13% and RevPAR increased by 12%. With nearly 600 new rooms added, including a 41% rise in our asset-light model, and nationwide Flurys rollout, we are poised to scale faster, enhance margins, and deliver exceptional shareholder value."

ASPHL’s strong performance in Q1 FY26 underscores its strategic focus on market expansion, operational excellence, and premium guest experiences.


Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

Marriott Announces Dividend and Expands Share Buyback Plan

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on August 10, 2025

Marriott International, Inc. has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 67 cents per share on its common stock, reaffirming its commitment to delivering shareholder value. The dividend will be paid on September 30, 2025, to shareholders who are on record as of August 21, 2025.

Alongside the dividend announcement, the hospitality giant also revealed an expansion of its share repurchase program. The board of directors has authorized the repurchase of an additional 25 million shares of its Class A common stock. This comes in addition to the approximately 7.4 million shares that were still available under previous authorizations as of July 30, 2025.

Marriott has already bought back 6.4 million shares this year, amounting to $1.7 billion. These moves reflect the company’s continued confidence in its financial stability and long-term performance, aiming to strengthen shareholder value through strategic capital allocation.


Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

Chennai Postal Services Still Disrupted: Experts Call for Alternative Systems Amid Software Transition

By Author

Published on August 4, 2025

In what was intended to be a smooth digital transformation, postal services across the Chennai Circle continue to remain disrupted even days after a scheduled upgrade to India Post's new IT 2.0 system. The software transition—part of a broader effort to modernize the nation’s postal network—was implemented on August 2nd and 4th across Chennai North and South divisions. However, officials have now confirmed that technical issues still persist, leaving customers and businesses grappling with delayed or inaccessible services.

Key services such as Speed Post, registered mail, parcel bookings, and money orders have either been significantly slowed or paused altogether in many branches. Despite expectations that systems would normalize post-upgrade, the rollout of the Advanced Postal Technology (APT) system has proven more complex than anticipated.

“We are still working on stabilizing the system. There have been unforeseen glitches post-upgrade, and our teams are actively resolving them,” said a senior postal official who requested anonymity.

The disruption has raised concerns across industries—including the hospitality sector—where timely document dispatch, license renewals, vendor payments, and customer correspondence are crucial to daily operations.

Experts and industry stakeholders are now calling on India Post to introduce alternative operational strategies or backup mechanisms during such large-scale transitions.

“In a digital age where seamless service is non-negotiable, a complete blackout due to a software update is avoidable. A fallback process, whether manual or cloud-based, should be in place to ensure continuity,” said a Chennai-based hospitality consultant.

The hospitality industry relies heavily on postal services for legal documentation, international communication, and procurement logistics. The ongoing delays have caused bottlenecks not just in operations but also in customer experience delivery.

As authorities continue to work toward a resolution, the broader question remains: Should India’s essential public infrastructure be this vulnerable to a single system upgrade? The answer may lie in future-proofing core services with hybrid digital models that include disaster recovery plans and parallel systems.


Hospitalitynews.in will continue to track updates as the situation evolves.

Stay up-to-date with the latest Hospitality news and trends in the Hospitality industry!

Subscribe to Hospitality news e-magazine for free and never miss an issue.

By clicking subscribe for free you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge our Privacy Policy.

Advertise With Us

We have various options to advertise with us including Events, Advertorials, Banners, Mailers, etc.