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By Author
Published on January 3, 2024
ITC, a name synonymous with diverse business ventures, is set to elevate its presence in the food-tech industry by expanding its cloud kitchen business. This innovative move comes as the conglomerate identifies food-tech as a key growth vector. Currently operating in Bengaluru and Chennai, ITC's cloud kitchens have become a preferred choice for North Indian daily and gourmet cuisines, as well as bakery products.
The company's foray into the cloud kitchen landscape is marked by three distinct brands: ITC Aashirvaad Soul Creations for daily comfort food, ITC Master Chef Creations for gourmet delights, and ITC Sunfeast Baked Creations for bakery treats. With 19 cloud kitchens in Bengaluru and four in Chennai, ITC has already achieved the milestone of breaking even in these locations.
Hemant Malik, Executive Director at ITC, shares insights into the success of the venture, citing a winning formula that includes established brands, cuisine expertise from ITC Hotels' chefs, and the backing of the packaged foods business. "The tech-learning needed for the business comes from our focus on digitalization," adds Malik.
The business model involves the establishment of a central kitchen and satellite kitchens in cities where ITC operates. This strategic layout aligns with the preferences of food delivery giants like Swiggy and Zomato, who prefer kitchens every 2.5-3 km. ITC aims to replicate its success in Bengaluru by becoming a market leader in the premium space in other cities.
"We are already the market leader in Bengaluru in the premium space within two years of operation and will now scale up in other cities," says Malik. The cloud kitchen central kitchen in Bengaluru has the capability to service both Chennai and Hyderabad, showcasing ITC's commitment to operational efficiency.
Going beyond its current offerings, ITC plans to diversify its cloud kitchen menu by evaluating the addition of breakfast and oriental cuisines. Malik emphasises the company's strategy to introduce new cuisines and meals alongside expanding its presence in metro cities.
Noteworthy is the fact that ITC's cloud kitchens boast an average order value of Rs 900, double that of the industry average. The key differentiators from ITC Hotels' kitchens include a 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) compared to 18% for hotel restaurants, and a focus on quick service.
In an investor presentation, ITC highlighted the institutional synergies between its cloud kitchen business and other segments, such as packaging solutions, digital-first approaches, and culinary expertise. With over one million orders already delivered, ITC aims to capitalise on the 10% market share occupied by cloud kitchens in the food delivery platform landscape.
However, the presentation also acknowledged challenges, particularly the scalability issues associated with North Indian cuisine due to its dependency on chef skills and the lack of standardisation. Nevertheless, ITC's strategic approach and commitment to innovation position it as a formidable player in the evolving landscape of the food-tech industry.
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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.
By Hariharan U
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.
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.
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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