Images Business of Food – January 2025

Description

Welcome to our First issue of 2026. A year where winners in retail will be those who can read the quiet signals—and act before the noise begins. As India’s retail market races towards the trillion-dollar mark, some of the most powerful inFLluences on buying decisions remain invisible. In this issue, we spotlight merchandising—the silent salesperson shaping impulse, preference, and loyalty across kiranas and supermarkets, where most of India still shops. Read the story on pages 18–19.

On pages 20-21, we bring you the story on how grocery apps have outgrown their role as digital store aisles. In 2026, they are evolving into intelligent food companions—anticipating needs, personalising baskets, and guiding choices through AI-led recommendations, voice, and visual search. Convenience is giving way to cognition. But this shift raises tougher questions: who controls the algorithm, how much inFLluence is too much, and where do trust, transparency, and data ethics fit in an AI-driven food economy?

Turning to the food service side of the magazine, our cover story in this issue on pages 22-32 features Daryaganj Restaurant—the modern revival of a storied North Indian legacy. Founded in 2019 by Raghav Jaggi and Amit Bagga, Daryaganj is best known as the home of butter chicken and dal makhani, rebuilt from scratch after the original outlet was sold. Today, the brand spans 15 outlets in India and abroad, clocks ~Rs.100 crore in annual revenue, and is chasing a Rs.1,000-crore, 100-restaurant vision—proof that nostalgia, when paired with discipline, can scale.

To close the issue, we take you straight to the action from Day 2 of India Food Forum 2025, where the spotlight was Firmly on HoReCa and food service. With 3,000+ delegates, 500+ brands, 250+ industry leaders, and 100+ exhibitors, the Forum once again reinforced its position as India’s most definitive food business platform. Turn to pages 38–61 for a ringside view of the most incisive panels, standout keynotes, and the PepsiCo Adrenaline Rush IMAGES Food Service Award winners. This isn’t just a recap—it’s a sharp snapshot of where India’s food service industry is headed next.