Gujarat is emerging as a key growth market for India’s organised restaurant and food services industry, with Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara witnessing expansion across dining, café, QSR and experience-led formats, according to the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI).
Ahead of the 5th NRAI Food Delivery Summit 2026, to be held in Ahmedabad on August 20, the association highlighted the state’s expanding restaurant ecosystem, growing entrepreneurial base and the emergence of GIFT City as a new consumption and business hub.
Ahmedabad alone has more than 20,000 restaurants, cafés and QSRs, with the city’s restaurant sector estimated to be growing at 10–12% annually. NRAI has more than 500 members across Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara, spanning established operators and home-grown brands.
The association said Gujarat-origin brands are increasingly looking beyond the state for expansion, while premium dining, international cuisines, cafés, QSRs and experience-led formats are gaining traction domestically.
GIFT City is emerging as another demand driver, with its growing financial, corporate and international business ecosystem creating opportunities in business dining, corporate catering, premium food experiences and new restaurant formats.
“Gujarat is an important example of this shift. The strength of its restaurant businesses across Gujarat, combined with the emergence of new consumption centres such as GIFT City, creates a strong opportunity for the industry,” said Pranav Rungta, Vice President, NRAI and Director, Mint Hospitality Pvt. Ltd.
Technology and AI are also becoming increasingly central to restaurant operations, with businesses deploying them across menu engineering, demand forecasting, inventory management, ordering, customer engagement and operational efficiency.
Aanal Kotak, Chapter Head, NRAI Ahmedabad and Founder, The Secret Kitchen (India & Global), said Gujarat’s food ecosystem was becoming more diverse across both cities and formats, with GIFT City adding a new business and consumption environment.
The growth comes against a broader national expansion. According to the NRAI India Food Services Report 2024, India’s food services market was valued at ₹5.69 lakh crore in 2024 and is projected to reach ₹7.76 lakh crore by 2028. The overall market is expected to grow at an 8.1% CAGR, while the organised segment is projected to expand at 13.2% CAGR.
The 5th NRAI Food Delivery Summit 2026, presented by Petpooja, is expected to bring together 5,000+ attendees, 70+ speakers and 1,500+ brands from 30+ cities. The summit will focus on restaurant scaling, franchising, AI, direct ordering, loyalty, valuation and the role of GIFT City in creating globally scalable Indian food brands.
