NRAI’s Restaurant Summit in Goa to Spotlight State’s Transition Into ‘Serious Global Culinary Hub’
~ Summit to draw over 2,000 delegates from India and abroad; Goa’s food services market pegged at ₹ 1,940 crore.
~ The restaurant industry in India is valued at ₹ 5.69 lakh crore and projected to reach ₹ 7.76 lakh crore by FY28.
Panaji, September 2025 — The Indian Restaurant Summit 2025, scheduled to be held in North Goa from September 15-17 will turn the spotlight on Goa’s transition from a tourist-led food destination to a serious global culinary hub. Organised by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), the three-day summit event will bring together more than 2,000 delegates, 60 speakers, 500 brands and 300 partners.
This is the first time Goa will host the summit. The state ranks 12th in India’s organised food services market with an estimated size of ₹ 1,940 crore. Goa, which attracted more than nine million tourists in 2024, hosts 15,147 restaurants, of which 8,331 are in the organised sector.
The summit’s theme, ‘Serving the Future’, reflects the wider churn in India’s restaurant industry, valued at ₹ 5.69 lakh crore and contributing 1.9 percent to the country’s GDP. The sector, India’s second-largest employer, provides 85.5 lakh jobs and contributed ₹ 33,809 crore in taxes in 2024. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 8.1 percent, reaching ₹ 7.76 lakh crore by FY28, with employment expected to grow by over 20 percent and tax contributions to touch ₹ 55,594 crore.
The summit will be attended by guest of honour, Tourism Minister, Government of Goa, Rohan Khaunte and the opening keynote will be delivered by Roni Mazumdar, CEO of Unapologetic Foods and Board Director, National Restaurant Association (USA). Mazumdar is the force behind some of New York City’s most recognised restaurants, including Adda, Dhamaka, Semma, Rowdy Rooster, Masalawala & Sons, Naks and the soon-to-launch Kebabwala.
Other speakers include AD Singh (Olive Bar & Kitchen), Ashneer Grover (The Big Chill Café), Anurag Katriar (Indigo Hospitality), Riyaaz Amlani (Impresario Entertainment) and Ashish Tulsian (Restroworks). Celebrity chefs Manish Mehrotra, Ranveer Brar, Saransh Goila, Vicky Ratnani and Avinash Martin will also feature.
Panel discussions at the signature event will address themes such as ‘Regional Goes National,’ ‘The F&B Experience Economy: When Dining Becomes Entertainment,’ ‘India as a Cocktail Destination: The Country’s Return to the Top of the Asian Bar Scene,’ ‘The Evolution of Café Culture in India,’ and ‘Culinary Capitals Clash: The Race to Be India’s Most Forward-Looking Food City.’
Prahlad Sukhtankar, chapter head, NRAI Goa, said the summit would highlight Goa’s potential to lead tourism-driven culinary growth in India. “The Indian Restaurant Summit 2025 focuses on Goa’s transformation from a tourist destination to a serious global culinary hub. With the assistance of Goa Tourism and state officials, we hope to address region-specific issues such as seasonality, licensing, and infrastructure,” he said.
Sagar Daryani, President of NRAI, added that the summit was “a movement to unify restaurateurs’ voices and create long-term growth paths for the sector.”
“The NRAI Indian Restaurant Summit 2025 is more than just an annual gathering of industry leaders. This time, the event is coming to Goa, an emerging hospitality hub where we will unlock new opportunities for the future of India’s vibrant dining industry,” Daryani said.
The NRAI has earlier hosted its summit in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai. Each edition, according to the association , has played a role in shaping industry collaboration and policy advocacy.
Registration link: https://nrai.org/microsite/Register_now.aspx
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