Author: Khwaish Hingad
-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) Jacob’s Brew House has officially launched its flagship outlet in Jaipur, marking a significant entry into Rajasthan’s rapidly evolving specialty coffee market. Positioned as a “design-led specialty café,” the venue aims to move beyond the traditional coffee shop model by fostering a vibrant community hub where coffee, art, and local culture intersect. The café’s debut comes at a time when Jaipur is witnessing a surge in demand for artisanal beverages and “slow living” social spaces. Jacob’s Brew House distinguishes itself through a meticulous focus on the science of brewing, sourcing high-quality single-origin beans from premium Indian…
-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) Nestlé India has officially expanded the retail footprint of its premium coffee brand, Nespresso, with the launch of a new boutique at Ambience Mall, Gurugram. This opening marks the brand’s second physical touchpoint in India, following the successful 2025 debut of its flagship store at Select City Walk, Saket. The Gurugram boutique is designed as an “immersion store,” transitioning away from traditional retail toward an experiential model. It aims to cater to the city’s cosmopolitan demographic of coffee connoisseurs and professionals who are increasingly seeking high-quality, barista-standard coffee for both home and workplace environments. Key Features…
-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar has announced the appointment of Rahul Shirish Karve as its new Executive Sous Chef. A seasoned culinary professional with an accomplished career spanning some of India’s most prominent luxury hospitality brands, Karve joins the team to reinforce the hotel’s reputation for gastronomic excellence and precision-led kitchen operations. With extensive experience at institutions such as the Renaissance Mumbai Convention Centre Hotel, Hyatt Pune, and Sahara Star Hotel, Karve brings a wealth of knowledge in managing high-volume, high-pressure culinary environments. He is particularly recognized for his ability to execute large-scale banqueting events, having previously…
-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) Toing, the affordable food delivery app, today announced its launch in Mumbai. Over the last 7 months, Toing has expanded to 18 cities across India and is also live in Pune, Agra, Vadodara, Guwahati, Nashik, Nagpur, Patna, Aurangabad, Bhopal, Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Chandigarh and Ahmedabad. Toing promises the lowest item prices across food/ beverages on its app, guaranteeing to match or beat restaurant table menu prices. In addition to this, there are no packaging charges or platform fees on any order. This will make Toing the most affordable food delivery app available in the…
-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) CBRE has announced the strategic appointment of Nikhil Shah as Senior Executive Director, Hotels & Hospitality, Capital Markets, India. Based in Mumbai, Shah brings over two decades of deep-rooted experience in hospitality investment and transaction advisory to the firm, further enhancing CBRE’s ability to execute high-value, complex transactions across the region. Shah’s expertise spans the entire lifecycle of hospitality assets, including banking, private equity, and capital raising. In his new role, he will focus on enhancing transaction execution within India’s hospitality sector, advising clients on emerging investment opportunities, and supporting the operational scale-up of hotel portfolios.…
-KH News desk (editorial1@imaws.org) The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced transformative changes to the Food Safety and Standards (Licensing and Registration of Food Businesses) Regulations. These reforms are designed to simplify the compliance landscape for India’s massive food industry, ranging from local vendors to large-scale manufacturers and hospitality chains. The most significant update is the transition to perpetual validity for FSSAI licenses and registrations. Under the new norms, food business operators (FBOs) will no longer be required to undergo the periodic renewal process every few years. Once granted, the license remains active for the lifetime…
-Khwaish Hingad (editorial1@imaws.org) The Indian Bakers Federation (IBF) has formally reached out to Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Hon’ble Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, raising critical concerns regarding the recent restrictions on commercial LPG supply. Representing over 50,000 MSME bakeries nationwide, the IBF has categorized these units as essential food manufacturers rather than hospitality services, warning that current fuel disruptions could lead to nationwide shortages of staple goods like bread and biscuits. The federation is calling for an immediate exemption from the March 5th LPG restrictions and a strategic shift toward prioritizing natural gas connections for the baking industry to…
-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) In a significant move toward streamlining the regulatory landscape for India’s food industry, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has approved major reforms in food safety rules. The most pivotal change is the introduction of perpetual validity for FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) licenses and registrations, a move designed to drastically reduce the compliance burden on food business operators (FBOs). Under the previous framework, food businesses were required to renew their licences every one to five years, often involving repetitive paperwork and administrative delays. With the new reform, once a licence or…
-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) Downtown29, the popular contemporary gastropub, has officially expanded its presence in Mumbai with the launch of its second outlet in the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC). Following the success of its flagship location, the new venue is designed to cater to BKC’s elite corporate crowd and the city’s burgeoning evening social scene. Spanning a meticulously designed space, Downtown29 BKC blends industrial-chic aesthetics with vibrant, modern accents. The venue transitions seamlessly from a sophisticated spot for corporate power lunches to a high-octane lounge as the sun sets, featuring a state-of-the-art sound system and a dedicated space for live…
-KH News Desk (editorial1@imaws.org) Roots Cafe, a popular destination for sustainable and organic dining, has announced a comprehensive rebranding and will now operate as Anahata Cafe. The transition represents more than just a name change; it signals a deeper commitment to “conscious dining”—a philosophy that integrates nutritional health, environmental ethics, and spiritual well-being. The new identity, Anahata, is inspired by the Sanskrit term for the heart chakra, symbolizing a space that is “unstruck” and infinite. This heart-led vision is reflected in the cafe’s redesigned interiors, which utilize sustainable materials, earthy tones, and biophilic design elements to create a sanctuary for…