India’s $66B F&B Sector Eyes Global Expansion by 2030

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At the 14th Indian Restaurant Congress & Awards (IRC) held on August 5–6, 2025 in Delhi—co-located with the Coffee & Tea Asia Summit—India’s F&B sector mapped a bold growth trajectory, projecting its current $66 billion value to nearly double by 2030.

The summit theme, “A Global Outlook,” reflected India’s pivot from local success to global expansion—with homegrown brands going global and international ones deepening their India footprint. Stakeholders ranged from chefs and restaurateurs to tech innovators and policymakers, signaling cross-sector momentum.

Key trends signaling this leap include:

• AI-driven plating and hyper-local menu creation to cater to diverse regional tastes.

• Inclusive hiring, notably from LGBTQIA+ and differently-abled communities.

• Rapid QSR delivery, with streamlined in-house apps capturing 12% of sales (as seen in brands like Rebel Foods and Speciality Restaurants).

• Authentic storytelling, rooted in seasonal, fusion-driven culinary concepts.

Anil Chadha, MD of ITC Hotels and Conference Chairperson, captured the zeitgeist:

“This generation tweets before they eat,” spotlighting how AI, experience, and authenticity are redefining Indian dining.

The summit also marked the launch of Restaurant India, a flagship print publication—featuring industry leaders Anjan Chatterjee, Kallol Banerjee, and Chef Vicky Ratnani on its debut cover. The event honored over 80 winners across categories such as Restaurant of the Year, Best QSR Concept, and Coffee Chain of the Year—out of more than 500 nominations and 700 attendees.

IRC 2025 reinforced that India’s F&B sector is entering its high-growth era. With innovation in technology, inclusivity, delivery models, and culinary storytelling, the industry is poised for global relevance—and explosive growth—by 2030.