Author: P Krishna Kumar
Kolkata’s Ballygunge has no dearth of restaurants, yet in just a year-and-a-half, Bonne Femme has managed to carve a unique position for itself, something founder Moushumi Sircar attributes not to glamour, but to relentless commitment, constant presence, and a knack to lead from the front. Sircar, an electronics engineer who spent more than a decade in senior roles at TCS before turning entrepreneur, says the transition into the food business was a reality check. “It looks very glamorous… but trust me, it is just the opposite. You need to be hands-on. You need to be there everywhere basically.” Having grown…
The maiden FPO–Hospitality & Farmers’ Benefit Summit, organised by the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) in Delhi, resolved to build strong linkages between the country’s farming community and the hotel and restaurant industry to enable inclusive economic growth. Devesh Chaturvedi, Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India, said that the government will encourage closer partnerships between Food Producer Organisations (FPOs) and the hospitality sector to enhance farmers’ income. He emphasised that no other industry has the power tourism has to redistribute income to underdeveloped regions of the country, and urged FPOs to leverage…
Home-grown burger chain Burgrill is gearing up for its next growth phase with a North India densification strategy, a sharper focus on company-owned outlets, and a targeted fundraise. With demand rising across metros and emerging markets such as Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, the brand sees strong headroom for controlled, profitable expansion. Burgrill, the Chandigarh-born burger brand founded in 2016, is preparing to shift gears as it eyes faster yet disciplined expansion across India. Shreh Madan, co-Founder of the QSR burger chain, said the company is now focused on strengthening its corporate-owned outlet footprint even as it retains its…
Miten Shah and Abhilash Menon, co-founders of home-grown sports bar brand, Studs Sports Bar & Grill, who relaunched one of their flagship joints at Andheri East Mumbai with a new design, ambience and product offerings recently, shared the rationale behind the re-design and the road ahead for the brand. Studs Sports Bar & Grill, one of India’s fastest-growing homegrown sports bar chains, is preparing for a global leap, with its co-founders Miten Shah and Abhilash Menon convinced that the world is ready to be surprised by a sports-bar concept that originates not in the US or Europe, but in…
Sumit Mitruka, CEO & Founder of Summit Hotels & Resorts, a hotel management company with strong footprint in northeast India, talks about his vision for the company as he opens the first company owned 5-star hotel asset in Siliguri in West Bengal followed by a marquee asset in Darjeeling. In the mountains of the Eastern Himalayas where tourism potential has long battled infrastructural limitations, Summit Hotels & Resorts has quietly become one of the region’s most dominant hotel companies, and its CEO & Founder Sumit Mitruka now wants to use that foundation to create a sharper, more segmented brand identity…
The new website – VisitDharamshala.com – launched by His Holiness Dalai Lama last week aims to bring all approved and registered attractions, products and services under one platform and overcome the deficit of flow of real time verified information about tourism in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh has launched a dedicated website for promoting tourism of Kangra district last week. The website was unveiled by His Holiness Dalai Lama in the presence of the association leaders and local tourism officials in the district. The website is designed to highlight diverse culture,…
The International Institute of Culinary Arts (IICA), New Delhi, is strengthening its international tie ups through key partnerships in Australia and Japan, opening clear academic and professional pathways for Indian culinary students. Speaking on the sidelines of IICA’s 40th convocation ceremony, Arjun Singh Datta, Managing Director and COO of IICA, said that these collaborations are designed to provide global exposure, industry relevance, and international credits that help students seamlessly transition to foreign universities and workplaces. “Students in India today are looking for pathways that take them abroad, but with credit,” Datta said. “Our partnership with BSI in Australia has been…
At a time when India’s food and beverage sector is being redefined by convenience, premiumisation and youth-centric innovation, the Wagh Bakri Tea Group is betting big on delivery-led growth to take its premium tea experiences to a wider audience. Speaking to HospitalityBiz India on the sidelines of an event to launch a new menu at the brand’s Connaught Place Delhi outlet, Sanjay Singal, CEO, Wagh Bakri Tea Group, said that while physical expansion continues, the brand’s sharper focus is on leveraging the reach of online delivery platforms to serve more consumers without losing the warmth and authenticity of its signature…
German major aims to cut import reliance to 25% by year-end, drive local manufacturing ecosystem. Häfele South Asia is shifting gears in its India journey with a clear focus on local manufacturing and reducing import dependence. The German interiors major, known for its premium hardware, lighting, kitchen, and home appliance solutions, has taken a decisive step toward deep localizsation through a strategic partnership and investment in Isler — a young Indian home appliance manufacturer under the government’s Make in India initiative. “This partnership is a milestone for us because Isler breathes quality and innovation, which perfectly aligns with Häfele’s philosophy,”…
JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity, one of the pioneering luxury hospitality addresses in the aerocity district, has celebrated its 12th anniversary recently. Sharad Datta, general manager of the hotel, who steered the property in the post-Covid recovery and revival, spoke exclusively and shared how the hotel is preparing for the next big leap as the district is set to have major inventory addition and other developments. Celebrating 12 years of redefining luxury hospitality in Delhi’s Aerocity, JW Marriott New Delhi Aerocity is preparing for its next chapter of growth. As the district continues to evolve into a vibrant hub of…
