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29 Oct 2026
Food brands must move beyond viral reels to build trust and long-term creator partnerships: Industry experts
At ET FoodXP 2026, panellists argued that food brands can no longer rely on promotions, viral trends or one-off influencer deals. Authentic storytelling and long-term relationships with creators are becoming central to brand trust. Speakers included food creator Kuljyoti Dhingra and Dillifoodies co-founder Priyanka Kapoor. Brands were urged to show how people actually cook and buy.
Restaurant Owners Can Now Just Ask, and Petpooja’s AI Agent Answers From Their Own Sales Data
Petpooja, a restaurant POS provider, has added an AI assistant called Ask Me Anything to its dashboard. Owners can type plain questions such as last month's sales, top sellers yesterday, or item-wise weekly profit and loss, and get answers from their own outlet data. No report navigation, filters or training are needed.
FranchiseTV Exclusive: Coffee Buddy Opens New Outlet at Bangalore
Coffee Buddy, a Filipino coffee chain, has opened a new outlet in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, and already has a footprint in Mumbai and Delhi. It entered India through a master franchise agreement with Franchise India and uses 100% Arabica and Robusta beans. It started in 2019 as an online bean store in Manila and opened its first café in 2022.
Repeat customers, not social media buzz, hold the key to QSR success: Industry leaders at ET FoodXP 2026
At ET FoodXP 2026, industry leaders said social buzz can attract customers, but repeat visits depend on consistent food quality, value, efficient operations and pleasant experiences. Gulati of Paschion and Tibb of Tibbs Frankie stressed that a first visit is only the start of building loyalty. Affordability means value relative to what customers receive, not the lowest price.
Food safety must be built into business operations, not treated as a compliance checklist: FSSAI's Satyen Ku..
Satyen Kumar Panda of FSSAI, speaking at ET FoodXP 2026, said food safety should be a core business responsibility, since consumer trust underpins growth. He urged manufacturers, retailers, distributors and foodservice operators to build safety into sourcing, production and delivery. He added that central and state authorities share enforcement duties.
McDonald’s reaches 500 restaurants across West and South India, targets 580 by FY28
Westlife Foodworld, operator of McDonald's in West and South India, opened its 500th outlet in GIFT City, Gujarat. The 3,200 sq ft restaurant offers dine-in and delivery and takes its Gujarat network to 72. The company plans 580-plus restaurants across West and South India by FY28 and aims for 100 Gujarat outlets within two to three years.
High rentals, changing consumer habits push India's cafe chains to rethink growth strategies
At ET FoodXP 2026, café operators and a leasing head said India's café sector is shifting from a lifestyle outing to an everyday habit. Rising rents and shifting customer expectations push chains to rethink expansion. Panellists stressed that demand alone does not guarantee profit, so location economics, menu strategy and retention must be weighed before opening outlets.
Restaurant funding must accelerate profitable growth, not become a survival strategy: Industry leaders at ET..
At ET FoodXP 2026, restaurant leaders said private equity and venture capital can speed up expansion, but should not replace profitability and operating discipline. Speakers argued that raising money from strength is better than needing it to survive, and that businesses should fund part of growth from internal cash flow. Expanding outlets without better store-level performance could weaken value.
India is ready for global restaurant brands, but the bigger opportunity lies in taking Indian cuisine worldw..
Zorawar Kalra, founder of Massive Restaurants, argued at ET FoodXP 2026 that the bigger opportunity lies in taking Indian restaurant concepts abroad, not in waiting for global brands. He said international audiences are receptive to Indian brands, citing strong demand abroad. Lama cautioned that international moves, particularly in bars, need knowledge of India's regulations and local partners.
From selling paan to Rs 1,000-crore biryani business: How Nagasamy Naidu built Tamil Nadu's popular...
Dindigul Thalappakatti, a Tamil Nadu biryani chain with more than 100 outlets, traces back to a family restaurant opened in Dindigul in 1957 with seating for four. Customers nicknamed it after the turban worn by founder Nagasamy Naidu, a name later adopted officially. The business earned about Rs 475 crore in FY25.
28 Oct 2026
The New Restaurant KPI: Getting Customers to Come Back
Repeat visits deserve more attention, since they show whether a brand is building a dependable base or only temporary demand. Toast's Regulars Report 2026 found that about 7% of guests could generate up to half of order volume at analysed businesses. The approach has implications for cafés, QSRs and casual dining.
Consistency, localisation and consumer trust key to food brands staying relevant: Industry leaders at ET FoodXP 2026
At ET FoodXP 2026, leaders from IKEA, Wow! Momo, Cremica and Nando's argued that brands stay relevant through consistency, local adaptation and consumer trust rather than constant new products. IKEA's India food offer includes local items such as samosas while keeping its Swedish identity. Speakers agreed that aggressive expansion cannot replace delivering on a brand's core promise.
Westlife Foodworld Opens McDonald’s 500th Restaurant in India
Westlife Foodworld, which runs McDonald's restaurants in West and South India, has opened its 500th outlet, in GIFT City, Gujarat. The 3,200 sq ft restaurant offers dine-in and delivery, and the opening marks 30 years of McDonald's in India and the 4,000th restaurant across its Asia Business Unit. Gujarat now has 72 outlets, including 31 free-standing drive-thrus.
Harajuku Tokyo Cafe Opens Its Largest Outlet in Borivali
Harajuku Tokyo Cafe has opened its biggest location yet, at Sky City Mall in Borivali, giving it a second Mumbai base. The branch is styled on Ikebukuro, a Tokyo district known for anime and arcades, and offers sake, soju and cocktails. Harajuku Bakehouse sits alongside, and the Kaiten Clash conveyor belt now runs all week.
Chrome Hospitality Opens Second ‘Late Checkout’ Outpost in Bandra
Chrome Hospitality has opened a second Late Checkout bar, this one in Bandra, after its Lower Parel debut. The 6,000 sq ft venue occupies the former Monkey Bar space and is the group's ninth Mumbai venture. It pairs a nostalgia-inspired cocktail menu with bar food and a slow-brew coffee programme, plus a five-day residency with Zuma Bangkok.
Bengaluru café makes Mumbai debut
Bengaluru Cafe, which has spent eight years building a loyal following, is opening its first Mumbai outlet on Gul Mohar Road in Juhu. The menu keeps to traditional South Indian dishes such as idli, vada, dosa and Jain sambar, plus Techa Masala Dosa, created for this location. Terracotta roofing and greenery carry over, adapted for a younger Mumbai crowd.
Bengaluru Restaurants Threaten To Boycott Swiggy, Zomato From August 15 Over High Commissions, Deductions
Restaurant associations in Bengaluru, backed by more than 1,000 hotels, have threatened to stop taking Swiggy and Zomato orders from August 15 unless demands on commissions, deductions and discounts are met. Commissions range from 8% to 28%. Demands include no automatic deductions before complaints are verified and itemised monthly settlement statements. As of July 29, neither platform had publicly responded.
Wingstop plans India entry by early 2027, sees potential for 1,000 restaurants
Wingstop plans to enter India by early 2027, seeing room for 1,000 restaurants. The company's international pipeline includes more than 2,300 commitments, and it opened 21 restaurants abroad in the quarter, taking its overseas base to 544. Domestic same-store sales fell 5.4% in the quarter, and the 2026 outlook was lowered.
CCPA imposes ₹1 lakh penalty on Shangri-La Eros for levying service charge on restaurant bills
The CCPA has fined Shangri-La Eros in New Delhi Rs 1 lakh over service charges added to restaurant bills at Mister Chai. It ruled that default charges automatically added to bills are unfair trade practice, even when labelled optional. After the hotel renamed the levy, stopped collecting it and offered refunds, the regulator still rejected its defence.
Bountyful Brings the Comfort of India’s Regional Kitchens to Indiranagar
Bountyful has opened in Indiranagar, Bengaluru, serving vegetarian food from across India's regional kitchens. Its menu spans 18 to 20 regional cuisines and includes dishes such as Bihari Sattu, Malai Gatta, Bhapa Paneer and Himalayan Thukpa, alongside tangy, spiced and zero-proof drinks. Founder Pallavii Gupta says the restaurant is rooted in memories of India's hills, towns and regions.
27 Oct 2026
Baskin Robbins Enters Waffle Category with New Dessert Range
Baskin Robbins has entered the waffle category with New York Loaded Waffles, sandwich-style waffles built from two layers. Flavours include blueberry and white chocolate, brownie and Nutella choco chip, cheesecake and Lotus Biscoff crumble, and chocolate overload. Customers can eat them alone or pair them with ice cream. The range targets new consumption occasions beyond ice cream.
Chifa Enters Bengaluru’s Marathahalli with Chinese-Peruvian Cuisine
Chifa, a Chinese-Peruvian concept, has opened in Marathahalli, Bengaluru. The menu blends Chinese cooking techniques with Peruvian flavours, featuring lomo saltado and arroz chaufa. Diners can sit in three areas, including an outdoor space overlooking the city, and order a signature cocktail called Barrio Chino. Founder Sundeep Reddy also runs Mirth and Roxie in Bengaluru.
Krispy Kreme Opens Two Stores in Mysuru
Two Krispy Kreme stores have opened in Mysuru, one at Nexus Centre City Mall and one at Mall of Mysore, giving the city its first access to the chain. Orders can also be placed online through Swiggy and Zomato. The opening coincided with Dasara, when free doughnuts and sampling were offered. Curefoods runs the chain in India.
Wow! Momo Foods enters Sri Lanka, eyes UAE and US for QSR expansion
Wow! Momo Foods will start its QSR business in Sri Lanka by the end of the year through master franchisee Softlogic Corporation, a Sri Lankan conglomerate. Colombo's first three outlets include a flagship at One Galle Face Mall and a food court unit at Havelock City Mall. The UAE is next, with Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah under review.
The Taste by Vir Sanghvi: Why restaurants refuse to scrap service charges | Hindustan Times
Restaurants continue to add service charges to bills despite repeated objections from customers, courts and regulators. A Delhi hotel was recently fined for levying one. Many restaurateurs say the charge is optional because diners can ask for it to be removed, while critics say it should be opt-in instead. The column calls opt-out systems unfair.
Not Bandra! South Indian food restaurant Santosham opens its fourth outlet in Mumbai; check more details here
South Indian vegetarian restaurant Santosham has opened its fourth Mumbai outlet, a 60-seat space in Malad. It already operates in Marine Drive, Powai and Thane. The menu includes an unlimited satvik banana leaf sadhya, and many dishes are made without onion or garlic. The restaurant was founded by mother-and-son duo Bhagyalakshmi and Chittaranjan Gohokar.
This Mumbai Startup Makes Edible Spoons That Could Replace Single-Use Plastic Cutlery
Mumbai startup Edybites makes edible spoons from a millet and flour mix, aiming to replace single-use plastic cutlery. Founded in 2022 by Rupesh K Sanghvi, the spoons are designed to break down naturally if they are not eaten. Sanghvi went through 88 failed attempts before settling on the final shape, texture and sturdiness.