NRAI Food Delivery Summit 2026 Highlights Technology, Scale and the Future of India’s Restaurant Industry
5,000+ restaurant owners, 100+ industry leaders and 3,000+ brands gather in Ahmedabad as discussions focus on food delivery, ₹1,000 crore brands, franchising, GIFT City and AI
The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) hosted the 5th edition of the NRAI Food Delivery Summit 2026 in Ahmedabad, bringing together more than 5,000 restaurant owners, 100+ industry leaders, 3,000+ brands and delegates from 30+ cities. The summit addressed key areas shaping the restaurant sector, including the development of ₹1,000 crore food brands, the future of food delivery, the role of GIFT City and the growing use of artificial intelligence in restaurants.
The summit was inaugurated in the presence of Shri Harsh Sanghavi, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Gujarat, who participated in discussions with industry leaders and stakeholders on the growth and transformation of India’s restaurant ecosystem.
Presented by Petpooja, the summit carried the theme ‘Automate to Dominate: Tech Powers Growth’. Sessions brought together restaurateurs, food brands, technology companies, investors and ecosystem partners to discuss growth, scale, technology, consumer behaviour and business sustainability.
Technology was examined in the context of restaurant operations and decision-making, with discussions focusing on how AI, automation, data and digital platforms are becoming increasingly integrated into areas such as operations, expansion, marketing and consumer engagement.
The event also saw the signing of MoUs with Mitti Café, Gift City and Easy Caters, marking new areas of collaboration across the restaurant and food services ecosystem.
Food Delivery and Building Large-Scale Brands
The session ‘Food Delivery – Decoding the Next Decade’ focused on the changing food delivery ecosystem and its implications for restaurants, platforms and consumers.
This was followed by ‘Building India’s Next ₹1,000 Crore Food Brand’, which examined the ambition, operating models and capabilities involved in building restaurant and food businesses at significant scale.
The subject of expansion was further explored through ‘The Franchisee Paradox – Scale with Excellence’. The session examined how restaurant businesses can pursue rapid expansion while maintaining consistency, quality and operational excellence, particularly as franchising becomes a route for entering new markets and developing national footprints.
GIFT City and Gujarat’s Food Ecosystem
The session ‘GIFT City for the Global Kitchen – Intersection of Innovation, Capital and Food Brands’ focused on Ahmedabad and Gujarat, examining the intersection of global capital, business infrastructure and the food and hospitality ecosystem.
The discussion considered what GIFT City could mean for restaurant brands looking for new consumers, partnerships and avenues for expansion.
AI and the Intelligent Restaurant
Technology remained a recurring focus throughout the summit, including in the session ‘The Intelligent Restaurant – Who Will Own the Future: Restaurant Platforms or Algorithms?’
The discussion examined how AI, data, automation and technology platforms could influence restaurant operations and decision-making. It also considered the balance between algorithm-driven processes and human judgement and hospitality in the future restaurant.
The summit also addressed brand-building and consumer engagement through ‘Marketing Strategies That Play to Your Strengths and Product’.
The concluding session, ‘Food Fight – Is Discount a Necessary Evil?’, focused on customer acquisition, pricing and sustainable profitability.
Industry Leaders Participate
Mr. Sagar Daryani, President, National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and CEO & Co-Founder, Wow! Momo Foods, said, “This year’s summit reflected a clear shift in the way the restaurant industry is thinking about growth. The conversation is becoming less about expansion for its own sake and more about building businesses that are resilient, profitable and capable of sustaining scale. Across food delivery, franchising, brand building, technology and the emergence of new markets such as GIFT City, we are seeing a greater focus on the fundamentals that determine long-term success. Technology will undoubtedly reshape how restaurants operate, but the businesses that create lasting value will be those that combine innovation with strong execution, consumer understanding and the core principles of hospitality.”
Parthiv Patel, Co-Founder & CEO, Petpooja, said, “The most significant change we are seeing in restaurants is that technology is becoming part of the decision-making layer of the business, rather than remaining limited to individual operational functions. As restaurants become more complex across formats, locations and channels, operators need connected systems that give them a clearer view of the business and enable faster, more informed decisions. The opportunity now is to make technology simpler, more accessible and more actionable for restaurant owners, so that it translates into better control, stronger efficiency and healthier businesses. The conversations at the NRAI Food Delivery Summit reflected this shift very clearly.”
Chef Aanal Kotak, Chapter Head, NRAI Gujarat - Founder, The Secret Kitchen (India & Global), said, “Gujarat have built a strong and evolving food ecosystem, driven by entrepreneurial energy, changing consumer preferences and a growing appetite for new dining experiences. The opportunity today extends beyond the growth of individual restaurants, with the wider ecosystem becoming more connected to technology, new business models and emerging developments such as GIFT City. Bringing the NRAI Food Delivery Summit to Ahmedabad has allowed us to put this evolution in focus while creating a platform for the industry to exchange ideas on growth, innovation and the future of food and hospitality in the region and across India.”
13 Workshops Address Restaurant Business Priorities
Alongside the main-stage programme, the summit featured 13 focused workshops across three parallel rooms. The workshops covered smarter growth strategies, direct ordering and repeat business, the entrepreneur’s money mindset, customer acquisition, packaging as a brand experience, AI-led restaurant operations, dine-in growth, building repeatable revenue engines, business valuation, visibility-led growth, menu innovation and content creation.
The summit featured participants from the restaurant, food delivery, technology and business sectors, including Mr. Sameer Khetarpal, Managing Director & CEO, Jubilant FoodWorks; Mr. Ankush Grover, Co-Founder & Global CEO, Rebel Foods; Mr. Anshul Gupta, Co-Founder, EatClub; Mr. Rohit Kapoor, CEO, Food Marketplace, Swiggy; Mr. Nitin Saluja, CEO, Chaayos; Mr. Mohit Khattar, CEO, Graviss Foods; Dr. Tapan Vaidya, Group CEO, Papa John’s; and Mr. Zorawar Kalra, Founder & MD, Massive Restaurants, among other industry leaders.
The 5th edition of the NRAI Food Delivery Summit highlighted the industry’s focus on technology, scale, consumer relevance and profitability. Discussions across food delivery, franchising, brand building, business models and technology examined how restaurants can integrate emerging tools and approaches while maintaining focus on long-term business value.