Ahmedabad is set to host the fifth edition of the NRAI Food Delivery Summit, one of India’s largest gatherings focused on the restaurant and food-delivery industry. Organised by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the summit will take place on 20 August 2026 at The Forum – Hotel & Convention in Ahmedabad.
Presented by Petpooja and supported by Coca-Cola, Janshakti, ITC Master Chef and Prasuma, Kaavyaratna the event is expected to be the biggest edition of the summit so far. More than 5,000 restaurant owners, over 70 industry leaders, 1,500-plus brands and delegates from more than 30 Indian cities are expected to participate.
The summit will bring together restaurateurs, food-delivery platforms, cloud-kitchen operators, technology companies, policymakers, investors and entrepreneurs. Participants will discuss the trends, technologies and business opportunities influencing the future of India’s restaurant and food-delivery ecosystem.
Technology Takes Centre Stage
The theme for the 2026 summit is “Automate to Dominate: Tech Powers Growth.” Discussions will focus on how artificial intelligence, automation and digital technologies are changing restaurant management and food delivery.
India’s food-services market is projected to expand from approximately USD 90 billion in 2025 to USD 150 billion by 2030. As the industry grows, restaurants are increasingly adopting technology to improve customer experiences, streamline operations and support sustainable business growth.
Ahmedabad has been selected as the host city because of its strong entrepreneurial culture and rapidly developing organised restaurant sector. The city provides a relevant setting for conversations about new business models, technological innovation and the next stage of growth in India’s food-service industry.
Evolution of the NRAI Food Delivery Summit
The NRAI Food Delivery Summit has developed alongside the changing restaurant and food-delivery market in India.
The inaugural edition was held in Mumbai in 2022 and focused on cloud kitchens during the post-pandemic recovery period. Pune hosted the second edition in 2023, where discussions explored the growing delivery economy and the role of food aggregators.
The 2024 Bengaluru edition highlighted technology, automation and sustainability. In 2025, New Delhi hosted the summit with a greater focus on innovation, industry collaboration and the future of food delivery.
Building on the progress of these four editions, the Ahmedabad summit will examine how AI, automation and digital solutions can support the industry’s next phase of expansion.
Building a More Efficient and Future-Ready Industry
Sagar Daryani, President of NRAI and CEO and Co-founder of Wow! Momo Foods, said that India’s food-delivery ecosystem has changed considerably over recent years. While this transformation has created new opportunities for restaurants, it has also introduced operational and business challenges.
He emphasised the importance of bringing restaurant operators, technology partners and other stakeholders together to exchange ideas and develop solutions that can support sustainable growth.
According to Daryani, the fifth NRAI Food Delivery Summit will continue the work of earlier editions by giving industry participants a platform to discuss how AI, automation and technology can make restaurants more efficient, resilient and prepared for the future.
Ahmedabad’s Growing Importance in India’s Food Sector
Chef Aanal Kotak, NRAI Chapter Head and Founder of The Secret Kitchen (India & Global), highlighted Gujarat’s long-established entrepreneurial culture.
She noted that Ahmedabad has developed into one of India’s most dynamic food destinations. The city’s restaurant community continues to introduce new concepts and respond to changing consumer preferences.
Hosting the fifth summit in Ahmedabad reflects the city’s increasing importance within India’s food and hospitality sector. The event is also expected to encourage valuable discussions among industry leaders about the future of restaurants and food delivery across the country.
Leading Restaurant and Food-Service Experts to Participate
The summit will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, fireside conversations and networking sessions. Several influential leaders from India’s restaurant and food-service industry are scheduled to participate, including:
- Sagar Daryani, President of NRAI and CEO and Co-founder of Wow! Momo Foods
- Pranav Rungta, Vice President of NRAI and Founder and Director of Churchgate HospitalityPvt.Ltd.
- Aanal Kotak, NRAI Ahmedabad Chapter Head and Founder of The Secret Kitchen (India & Global)
- Sameer Khetarpal, Managing Director and CEO of Jubilant FoodWorks Ltd.
- Ankit Chona, Managing Director and Founder ofHoccoIce Creams
- Ankush Grover, Global CEO of Rebel Foods
- Zorawar Kalra, Vice President of NRAI and restaurateur
- Gurpreet Singh Tikku, Founder of Mister Tikku
- Gaurav Kanwar, Founder and CEO of Harajuku Tokyo Café
Other prominent professionals from the restaurant and food-delivery ecosystem are also expected to attend.
Key discussion areas will include AI-led transformation, changing customer behaviour, operational excellence, entrepreneurship, emerging business models and innovations influencing the future of India’s restaurant industry.
Gujarat Emerges as a New Growth Market
The decision to host the summit in Ahmedabad highlights Gujarat’s growing potential as a major market for restaurants, food-service companies and technology-led hospitality businesses.
A strong entrepreneurial environment, evolving consumer preferences and the continued expansion of organised restaurant brands are helping Ahmedabad become an important food and hospitality destination.
By bringing national industry leaders to Gujarat, the fifth NRAI Food Delivery Summit is expected to strengthen collaboration and encourage the exchange of ideas that can support the long-term development of India’s restaurant and food-delivery sector.
About NRAI
Established in 1982, the National Restaurant Association of India represents the interests of more than 500,000 restaurants across the country. These businesses are part of an industry with an estimated annual turnover of ₹5.69 lakh crore.
NRAI works to promote and strengthen India’s food-service sector. The association has a nationwide presence and is governed by a committee comprising more than 30 restaurant owners and CEOs representing prominent Indian and international food and beverage brands.
It also works through a network of state and city chapters to represent restaurant businesses, address industry challenges and support profitable and sustainable growth.
This article is an independently rewritten version based on the information published in the original Roastbrief report and corroborated by ET HospitalityWorld
