LaRiSa Hotels & Resorts has expanded its presence in Uttarakhand with the signing and launch of two new Hotel Management Agreements for Ramgarh Vatika and Kumaon Cottage, both joining the portfolio under the AM Hotel Kollection.

The additions mark another milestone in LaRiSa’s growth journey, taking its presence in India to 39 hotels while strengthening its footprint in the Kumaon region, which continues to attract travellers seeking peaceful, nature-led, and experiential stays.

Located near Nainital, both properties offer guests a quieter alternative to conventional hill destinations while retaining easy access to the region’s attractions. Rooted in their surroundings, Ramgarh Vatika and Kumaon Cottage reflect LaRiSa’s focus on creating hospitality experiences that celebrate local character, heritage, and regional culture.

Ramgarh Vatika is a wooden chalet-style boutique retreat situated in the hills of Ramgarh at an altitude of over 4,500 feet. The property offers mountain-facing views, an in-house restaurant featuring freshly prepared cuisine and local Kumaoni specialities, along with curated experiences inspired by the natural surroundings.

Kumaon Cottage, meanwhile, carries a rich heritage legacy, having originated as a private home nearly 180 years ago. Over the years, the property has been transformed into a boutique stay while preserving its traditional charm through carved wooden doors, sheesham wood flooring, and handcrafted furniture created by local artisans.

The dining experience at Kumaon Cottage focuses on fresh organic ingredients and regional flavours, with in-house chefs creating dishes that reflect the culinary traditions of Kumaon.

Commenting on the new additions, Randhir Narayan, CEO, LaRiSa Hotels and Resorts, said, "Signing Ramgarh Vatika and Kumaon Cottage was not a move to add more hotels to our portfolio, rather a way to deepen our connection to a landscape and a way of travelling that feels quieter and more personal. Both hotels are rooted in their surroundings, and that is exactly what guides us when we grow: to build with intention, not just ambition."

With these additions, LaRiSa continues to strengthen its presence across India through its three brands, LaRiSa Resorts, AM Hotel Kollection, and 8fold by LaRiSa. The company focuses on developing professionally managed properties that combine warm hospitality, regional experiences, and a strong connection with their destinations.

The expansion into Uttarakhand reflects the growing demand for boutique mountain retreats and experiential hospitality, as travellers increasingly seek meaningful stays beyond traditional tourist destinations.

Haldiram's has strengthened its presence in Punjab with the launch of a new retail and dining outlet in Gurdaspur, further expanding its growing network across North India. Located at West Ville, Pathankot Bypass, Amritsar Highway, Dinanagar, the new store offers customers a comprehensive food and retail experience under one roof.

The newly opened outlet combines dine-in facilities with Haldiram's extensive portfolio of sweets, snacks, bakery products, frozen foods, ready-to-eat meals, beverages, and packaged food offerings. Designed as a convenient destination for both local residents and travellers, the store reflects the brand's continued focus on enhancing accessibility across key regional markets.

Guests can enjoy a diverse dining menu featuring North Indian and South Indian cuisine, chaats, traditional Indian sweets, bakery products, and popular street food favourites. The restaurant has been developed to provide a contemporary yet comfortable dining experience while maintaining the authentic flavours associated with the Haldiram's brand.

Beyond the dine-in experience, the outlet also houses Haldiram's complete retail range, including its signature namkeens, frozen foods, ready-to-eat products, beverages, and curated gifting options, enabling customers to enjoy the brand's products both at home and on the go.

The opening of the Gurdaspur outlet reinforces Haldiram's strategy of expanding into emerging regional markets while making its diverse culinary offerings more accessible to consumers across the country. The company continues to strengthen its national retail footprint by combining restaurant experiences with comprehensive food retail under a single destination.

NV Group has announced the launch of two new products Stainley Gold, a premium blended Indian whisky, and Blue Moon Minty Jamun, a flavoured vodka as the company strengthens its presence in India's rapidly growing premium spirits market.

The launches mark NV Group's entry into two highly competitive spirits categories, targeting aspirational whisky consumers and younger adults seeking flavour-led drinking experiences. Initially introduced in Delhi, both brands will be rolled out across Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Chandigarh, Goa, and Maharashtra, with the company aiming to establish a presence in at least 10 states by FY2026–27.

According to the company, India's premium spirits segment continues to witness strong momentum, driven by rising consumer preference for premium products and increasing demand from Tier-II cities. Whisky remains the country's largest spirits category, while flavoured vodka is emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments.

Stainley Gold is a premium blended Indian whisky crafted using matured imported Scotch malts blended with Indian grain spirit. Bottled at 42.8% ABV, the whisky offers notes of soft oak, vanilla, and dried fruit. In Delhi, it is priced at ₹700 for a 750 ml bottle and will also be available in 375 ml, 180 ml, 90 ml, and 60 ml pack sizes.

Blue Moon Minty Jamun is a rice-based flavoured vodka distilled three times and bottled at 37.5% ABV. Featuring a jamun-forward flavour profile balanced with a light mint finish, the vodka is designed for cocktails, highballs, and shots. It is priced at ₹600 for a 750 ml bottle in Delhi and will also be offered in 375 ml and 180 ml variants.

Both products are manufactured at NV Distilleries & Breweries Pvt. Ltd. in Rajpura, Punjab, under the supervision of Ramesh Gaudo, Senior Vice President – Blending & Bottling, NV Group.

Commenting on the launch, Varun Jain, CEO & Founder of Smoke Lab, NV Group, said the Indian spirits market is evolving rapidly as consumers increasingly seek products that combine quality, authenticity, and distinctive flavour profiles. He added that Stainley Gold and Blue Moon Minty Jamun have been developed to meet these changing preferences while strengthening the company's presence across key spirits categories.

The launches further reinforce NV Group's strategy to expand its Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) portfolio across whisky and flavoured vodka. Over the next two years, the company plans to accelerate its state-by-state expansion while focusing on flavour-led innovation and premium positioning across India's evolving spirits market.

Founded by Ashok Jain, NV Group is an integrated alcobev company with operations spanning vodka, gin, whisky, rum, brandy, and beer. Through brands such as Smoke Lab and Mohulo, the company continues to expand its presence in both domestic and international markets while promoting contemporary Indian spirits.