Food Connoisseurs India Convention

West India Edition

About the Convention

Industry Live is proud to launch the Food Connoisseurs India Convention – West India, a world platform in the F&B fraternity. FCIC was launched last year in 2021. It has since grown to become the biggest convention for food and beverage industry fraternity. So far, this convention has hosted over 300 industry visionaries and thought leaders who reached over 4,000+ professionals across sectors.

The convention has now become a “must-attend” event for F&B pioneers, blending insightful conferences, prestigious awards, and dynamic exhibitions. The last two editions saw over 300+ exhibitors demonstrating cutting-edge innovations and over 500+ awards celebrating excellence in various categories.

 21st May 2025  NESCO Centre, Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai

Rediscovering Flavours, Redefining F&B

The West India edition of the highly acclaimed convention for the nation’s vibrancy embodied within the F&B community is being presented by Industry Live after the huge success of seven editions.

For now, attention turns to micro-trends that are transforming consumer preferences and the changing landscape of F&B and the Culinary Renaissance.

Last few years have fundamentally seen the food industry redefining itself—impacting operations and offerings alike. Leaner menus, streamlined supply chains, and technological advancements became the norm. Perhaps one of the most exciting developments, however, was the spotlight on regional cuisine.

Industry Leaders, Chefs & Food Enthusiasts

The increased inbound tourism has been a welcome boost, with consumers discovering new love for authentic, homegrown flavors. The rediscovery of India’s vast culinary treasures inspires restaurants to be bold in experimentation, serving up dishes that celebrate regional diversity and tradition.

The West Edition of FCIC is an invitation to the industry’s thought leaders, innovators, and experts to come together, debate, and strategize for a future that is full of opportunities. Be it exploring how regional cuisines can drive growth or decoding new-age business strategies, the convention will give insights that will make brands resilient and future-proof.

Join us in celebrating innovation, navigating new opportunities, and shaping the next chapter of India’s F&B journey. 

Conference Agenda

  • Trends in Full-Service Restaurants (FSRs): Opportunities and Challenges
  • Fusion Cuisine Blending Local and Global Flavors
  • From Keto to Plant-Based Menus, Health-Conscious Dining Ruling the Platter
  • Leveraging Technology with a Tempering of AI, Digital Menus, and Contactless Experiences
  • Food Delivery Evolution: How Cloud Kitchens Are Shaping Dining Habits
  • Addressing Sustainability in Fine Dining: Waste Management and Local Sourcing
  • The Rise of Experiential Cafés: What’s Beyond Coffee?
  • Bakery and Patisserie Boom: Shaping Urban Café Menus
  • Millennials and Gen Z as Key Drivers of Café Culture
  • Evolving Design and Ambience: Creating Memorable Café Spaces
  • Role of Social Media in Defining the Café Experience
  • Promoting Local Artisans and Coffee Roasters
  • Surge of Regional and Micro-Cuisines in Restaurants
  • Authenticity vs Innovation: Balancing Traditional and Modern
  • Showcasing Indigenous Ingredients to the Global Market
  • Collaborating with Local Farmers and Producers
  • Culinary Tourism in West India: Attracting the Global Foodie
  • Food Festivals: Boosting Local Cuisine and Community Engagement
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  • Zero-Waste Kitchens: Feasibility and Implementation
  • The Role of Plant-Based Alternatives in Menus
  • Eco-Friendly Packaging Solutions for Takeaways and Deliveries
  • Reducing Carbon Footprints in Food Production and Supply Chain
  • Using Technology for Resource Optimization in Hotels and Restaurants
  • Educating Customers on Sustainability: From Farm to Fork
  • Craft Spirits and Cocktails: The New Nightlife Essential
  • Evolution of Bar Menus: Fusion Finger Foods and Beyond
  • Sustainability in Nightlife: Eco-Friendly Bars and Waste-Free Kitchens
  • Emerging Hotspots: Mapping West India’s Growing Nightlife Scene
  • Licensing and Legal Frameworks: Challenges for Nightlife Entrepreneurs
  • Hyper-Local Competitors vs National Chains: The Tug of War
  • The Influence of Food Bloggers and Influencers in the HoReCa Sector
  • Tech-Driven Personalization in Customer Experiences
  • Revival of Traditional Cooking Methods: Nostalgia in Modern Kitchens
  • Collaborations with Global Chefs and Brands: What Works in West India?
  • Exploring the Role of AI and Data Analytics in Predicting Food Trends

A Few of the previous editions Eminent Speakers

PADMA SHRI SANJEEV KAPOOR

Masterchef & Entrepreneur

PADMA SHRI DR. PUSHPESH PANT

Indian Academician, Food Critic And Historian

CHEF KUNAL KAPUR

Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, TV Personality, Judge (MasterChef India), Author & Food Researcher

ZORAWAR KALRA

Founder & MD, Massive Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. & Judge (MasterChef India)

Chef Hemant Oberoi

Founder, OB Hospitality and Hemant Oberoi Hospitality Goa
Founder, Michelin Selection Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi

CHEF RANVEER BRAR

Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, TV Show Host, Masterchef India Judge, Author & Food Film Producer

CHEF ATUL KOCHHAR

2 Time Michelin Starred Chef, Restaurateur & Entrepreneur

RIYAAZ AMLANI

CEO & MD, Impresario Handmade Restaurants

Sanjay Vazirani

Chief Executive Officer, Foodlink F&B Holdings India Pvt. Ltd.

ANURAG KATRIAR

Trustee, NRAI (Voice of the Indian Restaurant Industry) & Founder & Managing Director, Indigo Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.

CHEF MANJIT GILL

President, IFCA; Managing Director, Eco Green Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.

MERRILL PEREYRA

Managing Director, Pizza Hut India Subcontinent

ANJAN CHATTERJEE

Founder,
Speciality Restaurants Limited

SANDESH REDDY

Founder,
Bread and Butter and Co.

A. K. SINGH

Director, FHRAI Institute of Hospitality Management

Padma Shri Awardee Dr. Chef Damu

Celebrity Chef & Brand Ambassador GRT Group of Hotels, President- South Indian Chefs Association

Chef Suresh Pillai

Founder, RCP Hospitality

Chef Sanjay Thumma

Celebrity Chef and Entrepreneur, Chef @ Vahrehvah.com

Sangeetha Maruthapandian

Director, Anjappar Chettinad Restaurant

Shakir Haq

CEO, NKP EMPIRE VENTURES PVT LTD (Empire Restaurant, Empire Juice, EasyBites, Karama Restaurant, Vegetarea)

AVINASH KANT KUMAR

President,
Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd.

AKASH KALRA

Managing Director,
United Group

CHEF RAKESH SETHI

Corporate Executive Chef, Operations, South Asia Radisson Hotel Group

KAZEM SAMANDARI

Executive Chairman,
L’Opera

SHIKHA NATH

Culinary Director, Charcoal Concepts (Copper Chimney, Bombay Brasserie)

RAHUL SINGH

Founder & CEO, The Beer Café

KARAN KAPUR

Executive Director,
K Hospitality Corp

YANGDUP LAMA

Entrepreneur, Beverage Consultant,
Author & Co-Founder, Sidecar and
Cocktails & Dreams Speakeasy and
Partner, Drinks India Company

ROCKY MOHAN

Brand custodian, Old Monk,
Author, Founder, Gourmet
Passport & Chef Pin

RAGHAV JOSHI

Co-founder,
Rebel Foods

Sumesh Govind

CEO, Paragon Group of Restaurants

Balachandar R

Executive Director, Junior Kuppanna Kitchens Pvt Ltd

Sanjana Suresh

Partner, Sangeetha Veg Restaurant

Rohit Kasuganti

Founder & CEO, Telangana Spice Kitchen & Terrāi

Avinash Kapoli

Co-Founder, Kompany/Jamming Goat

CHEF ABHIJIT SAHA

Restauranteur, Food & Beverage Consultant, Oenophile And Author
Chef-Owner – LYFE, Farm To Fork Restaurant, Bangalore

DR. A.K. TYAGI

Executive Director,
Haldiram Group of Companies

ESHWAR K VIKAS

Co-founder & CEO,
Mukunda Foods

KABIR ADVANI

Managing Partner, Berco’s

SAMIR KUCKREJA

Founder & CEO,
Tasanaya Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.

Chef Chalapathi Rao

Cuisine Designer & Partner – Simply South, MasterChef India (Telugu) Judge, TEDx Speaker

CHEF AMRITA RAICHAND

TV Host & Judge | Lifestyle Chef |
India’s Cultural Ambassador|
Tedx Speaker

CHEF SHIPRA KHANNA

MasterChef India Season 2
Winner, Cookbook Author,
TV Host/Producer & Consultant

TARAK BHATTACHARYA

Executive Director and CEO,
Mad Over Donuts

DR. VIKRAM KAMAT

Founder Chairman,
The VITSKamats Group

GAURI DEVIDAYAL

Co-founder, Food Matters Group

CHEF AJAY CHOPRA

Chefpreneur, Restaurateur,
Consultant & Judge
(MasterChef India)

CHEF MONTU SAINI

Executive Chef – Parliament House

CHEF SARANSH GOILA

Celebrity Chef & Founder, Goila Butter Chicken

CHEF SHAUN KENWORTHY

Chef, Restaurateur, Consultant, Food & Travel Writer

SHATBHI BASU

Director,
Creative Consultants &
STIR Academy of Bartending

SIDDHANT RAGHUNANDAN KAMATH

Director,
Natural Ice Creams

Parthiv Patel

CEO & Co-Founder,
Petpooja

RAHUL SETH

Co-Founder,
Burger Singh

RAJEEV MATTA

Founder, Chholay;
Partner, Matta Kansara & Sons LLP

RAJENDRA KALKAR

President (Malls) & Whole Time Director,
The Phoenix Mills Ltd

VIKAS PANJABI

Co-Founder & MD,
The Chocolate Room (India) Private Limited

Chef Gautam Mehrishi

Corporate Executive Chef,
NESCO Foods

Gaurav H Parikh

Director,
Richboyz Hospitality Pvt Ltd

Vijay Dalwani

Chairman,
DNY Hospitality

CHEF AANAL KOTAK

 Celebrity Chef & Co-Founder,
TSK Hospitality LLP

DHIMAN DAS

Executive Director,
K.C. Das Private Limited

Prashant Issar

Founder, Ishaara and
Director, Bellona Hospitality

Neeti Goel

Director,
Avan Ventures Pvt Ltd

ARJUN CHUGH

Founder,
7th Heaven Bakery Cafe, 7th Avenue Waffles & 7th Street Boba

FARMAN BEIG

Co-Founder & CEO,
Wat-A-Burger

TEJA CHEKURI

Managing Partner,
Ironhill India

PRANAV RUNGTA

Co-Founder And Director, Nksha Restaurant And
Vice President, NRAI

Prahlad Sukhtankar

Founder,
The Black Sheep Bistro and Black Market Goa

AMRISH ARORA

Managing Director,
Fountain Hospitality Pvt Ltd

CHEF VINOD BHATTI

Co-Founder & CEO,
Wat-A-Burger

Raghavendra Rao

Co-Founder & CEO
The Rameshwaram Café

CHEF ISHIJYOT SURRI

Executive Chef & Founder,
SJI Hospitality & Foods Pvt. Ltd.

Swarnalatha Ravi

Director,
Namma Veedu Vasanta Bhavan

Mukesh Tolani

Co-Founder and Director, Toit Beer Co., pH4 Food & Beverages Pvt. Ltd.

CHEF SABY

Chef, Mentor,
Restaurateur & Entrepreneur

RAKSHAY DHARIWAL

Founder & Managing Director,
Pass Code Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.

ABHAYRAJ SINGH KOHLI

Founder, Tori, Grandmamas Café,
MRP & The Roll Company

ADITI DUGAR

Director & Founder, Masque &
Urban Gourmet India Pvt. Ltd.

SONAL HOLLAND

Master of Wine, Founder Director,
Soho Wine Consultants & Sonal
Holland Wine Academy

RAJAT WAHI

Partner,
Deloitte Consulting, India

PUSHPA BECTOR

Executive Director,
DLF Retail

CHEF KOUSHIK S.

Celebrity Chef, Consultant,
Master Chef Tamil Judge &
Founder, Eatitude

CHEF DAVINDER KUMAR

Executive Chef & Vice President,
Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi
& President, Indian Culinary Forum

PAWAN SHAHRI

Founder & CEO, Chrome Asia
Hospitality Pvt Ltd.

CHEF SUDHIR PAI

Chef & F&B Consultant,
Pai & Associates

DHEERAJ GUPTA

Founder and MD,
Jumboking

JASMIT TIBB

Managing Director,
Tibb’s Frankie

PRAVESH PANDEY

VP – Restaurant Success, Zomato &
Shareholder and Former Director,
Byg Brewski Brewing Company

ANUBHAV SAPRA

Founder & Foodie-in-Chief,
Delhi Food Walks

Ananth Narayan

Proprietor – Just BLR, Just BLR Arena, Just BLR Comedy Club, Kothaichi

Shashank Anumula

Owner, Café Niloufer

Bobby Patel

Co-Founder and Culinary Director, Trinetra Venture (Thyme & Whisk, MadDoh, Tribes)

Marichi Mathur

Sr. Vice President Retail, ONDC

R.S. Dharmendra

Chief Operating Officer, Gigu Hospitality Private Limited, Gillys Chain of Restobars

Nicolas Grossemy

Co-Founder,
Paris Panini

CHEF RAKHEE VASWANI

Founder,
Palate Culinary Academy

VANIITHA JAIIN

Founder, The Perfect Pour

SHAILEE CHATRATH TYAGI

Director, Organised Trade Channels,
Pepsico India Beverages

RAYMOND ANDREWS

Founder,
Biryani Blues

Awards Overview

Food Connoisseurs India Awards – West Edition is where the best of the F&B industry come together to raise a toast to those who deserve. Established in 2021, this award is for everyone who has elevated the levels of the F&B industry while sticking true to the core of customer service and customer satisfaction, irrespective of the size, scale, capital, or business model.

The winners will be presented with a trophy and a certificate signed by the esteemed jury members at the grand ceremony amidst media and 500+ Industry Veterans.

Come and get nominated and be recognized for the champions you are!!!

Esteemed Jury Members

Chef Ajay Chopra

Chefpreneur, Restaurateur, Consultant & Judge (MasterChef India)

Chef Suresh Pillai

Founder, RCP Hospitality

 

Dr. Chef Damu

Celebrity Chef & Brand Ambassador GRT Group of Hotels, President- South Indian Chefs Association 

Chef Sanjay Thumma

Celebrity Chef and Entrepreneur, Chef @ Vahrehvah.com

Chef Aanal Kotak

Celebrity Chef, Co-Founder, TSK Hospitality LLP

 

Chef K Thiru

Dean School of Hospitality,
Mahindra University Hyderabad

 

Chef Chalapathi Rao

Cuisine Designer & Partner – Simply South, MasterChef India (Telugu) Judge, TEDx Speaker

Chef Abhijit Saha

Restauranteur, Food & Beverage Consultant, Oenophile And Author Chef-Owner – LYFE, Farm To Fork Restaurant, Bangalore

Chef Koushik S.

Chef, Founder Eatitude Consultants, MasterChef Tamil Judge & TEDX Speaker

Chef Shreeya Adka

Masterchef India Tamil Judge, Founder / Chef – The French Door

Chef Nikitha Umesh

Pastry Chef, Entrepreneur, Celebrity Chef & MasterChef India Judge (Telugu)

Award Categories

RESTAURANT AWARDS

CLOUD KITCHEN

CUISINE AWARDS

CAFE & BAKERY AWARDS

DESIGN AWARDS

NIGHTLIFE AWARDS

NEWCOMER AWARDS

INDIVIDUAL HONOURS

SPECIAL AWARDS

 

 

Previous Awards Jury Members

PADMA SHRI SANJEEV KAPOOR

Masterchef & Entrepreneur

CHEF HEMANT OBEROI

Founder, OB Hospitality and Hemant Oberoi Hospitality Goa
Founder, Michelin Selection Martabaan by Hemant Oberoi

Zorawar Kalra

Founder & MD, Massive Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. & Judge (MasterChef India)

Chef Kunal Kapur

Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, TV Personality, Judge (MasterChef India), Author & Food Researcher

CHEF MANJIT GILL

President, IFCA; Managing Director, Eco Green Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.

Chef Suresh Pillai

Founder, RCP Hospitality

Padma Shri Awardee Dr. Chef Damu

Celebrity Chef & Brand Ambassador GRT Group of Hotels, President- South Indian Chefs Association

Chef Sanjay Thumma

Celebrity Chef and Entrepreneur, Chef @ Vahrehvah.com

CHEF RITU DALMIA

Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur, Owner of multiple acclaimed restaurants worldwide, Popular TV host & Author of several Cookbooks.

Kunal Vijayakar

Broadcaster, Food Writer, Author, Actor and Television Personality

SHATBHI BASU

Director,
Creative Consultants &
STIR Academy Of Bartending

CHEF HARPAL SINGH SOKHI

Celebrity Chef &
Entrepreneur

Sanjay Vazirani

Chief Executive Officer,
Foodlink F&B Holdings India Pvt. Ltd.

Chef Chalapathi Rao

Cuisine Designer & Partner – SIMPLY SOUTH, Masterchef India (Telugu) Judge, TEDx Speaker

Chef Ajay Chopra

Chefpreneur, Restaurateur, Consultant & Judge (MasterChef India)

Chef Davinder Kumar

executive Chef & Vice President, Le Meridien Hotel, New Delhi
& President,
Indian Culinary Forum

Chef Abhijit Saha

Restauranteur, Food & Beverage Consultant, Oenophile And Author
Chef-Owner – LYFE, Farm To Fork Restaurant, Bangalore

DR. (CHEF) K. THIRU

Principal,
Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration

MASTERCHEF PANKAJ BHADOURIA

TV Host, Author, TEDx Speaker, Entrepreneur, Educator

CHEF MARINA BALAKRISHNAN

Chef & Founder,
Oottupura

Ameeta Agnihotri

Award winning Food Critic & Author

CHEF ANANYA BANERJEE

Author, Consultant, Founder & CEO,
Ananya Banerjee Consulting Services

CHEF SHERRY MEHTA

CEO, The Nomad Foodie, Award winning Chef Restauranteur, F&B Consultant, Food TV Show Judge, Pop-up Specialist

CHEF VARUN INAMDAR

Chef, Chocolatier, Food Stylist, Author, Food Film Maker, Brand Advisor & Consultant

Chef Saby

Chef, Mentor, Restaurateur & Entrepreneur

Chef Aanal Kotak

Celebrity Chef & Co-Founder,
TSK Hospitality LLP

Chef Shaun Kenworthy

Chef, Restaurateur, Consultant, Food & Travel writer

Chef Koushik S.

Celebrity Chef, Consultant, Master Chef Tamil Judge & Founder, Eatitude

Chef Shreeya Adka

Masterchef India Tamil Judge, Founder / Chef – The French Door

Chef Nikitha Umesh

Pastry Chef, Entrepreneur, Celebrity Chef & MasterChef India Judge (Telugu)

Few Glimpses