Author: HBI Staff | Hyderabad
The Forum of Indian Food Importers (FIFI) and the Eastern India Culinary Association (EICA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on culinary activities, industry outreach and the promotion of global food and beverage products, with a focus on eastern and north-eastern India. The MoU was signed on behalf of FIFI by Mr. Rakesh Banga, Founder Director, and Mr. Uday Chugh, Founder Director. Chef Abhiru Biswas, President, EICA, signed on behalf of EICA. Dr. Shankar Ghosh, Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge for Tourism and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of West Bengal, attended the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his address,…
Hyderabad’s food safety enforcement drive has once again put the spotlight on basic hygiene and regulatory compliance, with officials suspending the FSSAI licence of Shadab Hotel in Madina and shutting down two cafes for operating without valid food safety licences. Nine teams from the Enforcement Wing of the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs (TG SAFE), comprising Food Safety Officers and police personnel, inspected 19 cafes and snack outlets across Hyderabad’s core urban areas during a special drive. What they found ranged from expired food and poor storage practices to cockroach infestation and missing statutory records. At Shadab…
UNOX, an Italian brand and a global leader in professional ovens, has partnered with Trufrost & Butler to further strengthen its distribution network and expand the reach of its professional cooking solutions across India. As part of the partnership, Trufrost & Butler will support the distribution of UNOX’s range of professional ovens through its network, catering to the requirements of chefs, restaurants, hotels, bakeries and other foodservice businesses across the country. The collaboration brings together UNOX’s expertise in professional cooking technology and Trufrost & Butler’s experience and presence in India’s HoReCa sector. The partnership will enable both organisations to respond…
Indian Hotels Company (IHCL), India’s largest hospitality company, today announced the signing of a Gateway branded hotel in Agartala, Tripura. The brownfield project expands Gateway’s presence in the North East. Ms. Leah Tata, Vice President & Brand Leader, Gateway Hotels & Resorts, IHCL said, “Gateway brand expands in the Northeast with this signing, marking the second anniversary of the re-imagined brand. Agartala is witnessing increased demand for hospitality offerings led by the growth of economic activity in the region. This signing is in line with our strategy of expanding across key business centres and emerging destinations. We are delighted to…
New cloud-based platform to integrate in-room entertainment, device management and hotel operations; 40-property pilot underway in US and Canada LG Electronics and Marriott International have joined hands to develop a cloud-based technology platform that aims to move the hotel television beyond its traditional role as an in-room entertainment device and make it part of a wider connected guest-room ecosystem. The companies have signed a memorandum of understanding at Marriott’s global headquarters in Bethesda, Maryland, to advance the jointly developed platform, which will combine smart hotel TVs, cloud technology and connected-device management. The initial rollout will cover 40 participating Marriott hotels…
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a franchise agreement for Garner Hotel Ahmedabad Motera, marking the brand’s debut in Ahmedabad and further expanding its footprint in India’s midscale conversion segment. Scheduled to open in 2029, the 40-key hotel will be developed by Devpriya Buildcon and managed by United Hospitality Management (UHM) India. The property will be located at the Motera-Sabarmati junction in North Ahmedabad, close to the Narendra Modi Stadium, Sabarmati Bullet Train hub and key corporate districts. The hotel will form part of a mixed-use development featuring retail, banquet and restaurant facilities, along with a hospital. “Ahmedabad continues to…
OPO Hotels & Resorts has been named ‘Fastest Growing Hotel Chain’ at Global Tourism Connect 2026, held in Noida on August 29. The recognition comes as India’s hospitality sector expands amid rising domestic travel and demand for quality accommodation. OPO Hotels & Resorts Founder and Managing Director Amit Kumar Singh received the recognition on behalf of the brand. The event also featured a panel discussion on ‘The Future of Hospitality: Sustainability, Value & Evolving Guest Expectations’, focusing on changing traveller preferences, sustainability and the need for hospitality businesses to adapt to market shifts. The panel included K.B. Kachru, Chairman Emeritus,…
Mohan Meakin, maker of Old Monk, has agreed to remove the “7 years old blended” claim from its bottles and make the disclosure of added flavours more prominent following scrutiny by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). The company gave the undertaking before the Bombay High Court, which is hearing a dispute over the composition and labelling of certain Old Monk variants and their sale in Maharashtra. The controversy centres on whether the “7 years old blended” description could mislead consumers into believing that the entire spirit had been aged for seven years. FSSAI has argued that…
Optimistic Capital’s maiden investment, Bengaluru-based microbrewery 33&Brew, has turned profitable, with the alcobev-focused fund reporting an 18% IRR and beginning profit distributions to investors. The fund said 33&Brew has recorded just under ₹1 crore in monthly revenue over the past two months and is projected to reach around ₹2 crore in revenue over the next 12 months, with an anticipated EBITDA margin of about 20%. Its latest financial statement shows monthly EBITDA of ₹18 lakh. Funded through a SEBI-registered Category I AIF, 33&Brew attracted more than 100 angel investors. Optimistic Capital began distributing profits to investors in June, with current…
Accor is expanding its footprint in Rajasthan with the signing of Novotel Jaipur Achrol Resort & Spa, a 150-key resort slated to open in 2031 along the Delhi–Jaipur corridor. Developed by Anvi Carnations Hotel and Resorts LLP, the resort will feature guestrooms with private balconies, an all-day dining restaurant, lobby lounge bar, swimming pool, spa and fitness centre. The property will also have around 1,000 sq m of meeting and banquet space, targeting weddings, MICE, corporate offsites, social events and leisure stays. Achrol is emerging as a leisure and events destination, benefiting from connectivity to Delhi NCR and Jaipur. The…
