PIB Headquarters
AAHAR 2026: The International Food & Hospitality Fair
Where Businesses Grow, Scale, and Expand
Posted On: 14 MAR 2026 11:16AM by PIB Delhi
The steady buzz of conversations, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and the sight of innovative food displays filled the halls of Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, as the 40th edition of AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair took place from 10-14 March 2026. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and the India Trade Promotion Organisation (ITPO), AAHAR has emerged as one of South Asia’s most prominent B2B platforms for the food and hospitality sector. What makes the exhibition stand out is not just the scale of participation, but the way it has evolved into a trusted name and source for businesses in the food and hospitality industry to grow, scale, and expand.
AAHAR brings together hotels, restaurants, catering institutions, importers, distributors, and suppliers, creating a platform where interactions frequently develop into business partnerships. Over the years, the exhibition has witnessed an interesting trend: several entrepreneurs who once attended as visitors or buyers now return as exhibitors with their own brands. Their journeys illustrate how continued participation in the fair can yield business insights, build market connections, and ultimately drive entrepreneurial growth.
Among the vibrant state pavilions at AAHAR 2026, the Kerala pavilion showcased how regional businesses are using the platform to expand their product reach. One of the participating companies, RG Foods, traces its origins back to 1940 in Calicut, Kerala. Known for its diverse product line, including edible oils (gingelly oil, mustard oil, coconut oil), rice varieties (Palakkadan Vadi Matta rice), breakfast powders, traditional Kerala snacks (such as frozen foods), and Ready-to-use cooking pastes (ginger paste, ginger-garlic paste, garlic paste), the company has gradually expanded its presence beyond regional markets. At this year’s exhibition, the company showcased authentic Kerala snacks, including banana chips, spicy mixtures, murukku, and other traditional delicacies.
Mr. Swagath, a representative of RG Foods at the fair, spoke vividly about how participation in AAHAR has helped the company connect with both national and international clients. Today, our products are available in more than 31 countries, including markets in Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Qatar. Through interactions at the fair, it has strengthened distribution channels in Delhi and initiated discussions to expand into three new international markets. Mr. Swagath mentioned that the company holds approximately 65 percent market share in the edible oil sector across the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) regions and operates an extensive distribution network, reaching about 1.5 lakh retail outlets across Kerala, supported by over 450 distributors. Their participation was supported through the state government’s state pavilion initiative, which provides free exhibition space to well-performing enterprises from the state. According to Mr. Swagath, extensive preparation, such as targeted digital outreach and pre-scheduled meetings with potential distributors before the event, helps the company maximise the business opportunities at AAHAR.
A similar story of growth was shared by Mr. Dhyaan Mehta from Ahmedabad, Gujarat. His company, TGR Foods, produces cake and bread mixes used as raw materials by bakeries, confectioneries, and dairy industries. For nearly ten years, Mehta attended AAHAR as a customer, exploring suppliers and learning about industry trends. This year marked a milestone for him as he participated for the first time as an exhibitor, showcasing his own products. His journey shows how entrepreneurs often learn from the AAHAR ecosystem before launching their own ventures.
Another entrepreneur who shared a similar journey is Mr. Soberpreet Singh, founder of Packmold, a company that manufactures beverage cups for hot and cold drinks. His business primarily supports small and emerging beverage brands that often struggle to meet the high minimum order requirements of large packaging manufacturers.
Packmold produces cups with an aqua coating rather than a conventional plastic coating, offering a more environmentally responsible, government-compliant alternative. Within just six months of operations, the company has secured orders from major clients such as Reliance Retail’s Wild Bean Cafés and Adani Airports, while also supplying packaging to growing beverage brands like Slay Coffee.
Mr. Singh shared that years of visiting AAHAR as a buyer helped him understand the industry and identify market gaps. These experiences eventually inspired him to launch Packmold. This year marks his first participation in the exhibition as an exhibitor.
Along with emerging entrepreneurs, the exhibition also featured major global and Indian brands, including Nescafé, Barry Callebaut, Go Cheese, Morde, Haldiram’s, Cremica, and MTR. Their stalls attracted large crowds with live product demonstrations and tasting sessions.
At the Barry Callebaut stall, chocolatier Chef Ghosh presented creative chocolate preparations and artistic designs, drawing enthusiastic interest from visitors. Many students from culinary institutes and hospitality colleges gathered to watch the demonstrations and interact with the chef, eager to learn more about the craft.
For aspiring chefs and hospitality professionals, AAHAR has become a valuable learning platform. Students attending the exhibition had the opportunity to interact with industry experts, chefs, and brand representatives. From ingredients and equipment to packaging, branding, and distribution, the event offered them a practical understanding of how the food and hospitality industry works beyond the classroom.
As AAHAR marks its 40th edition, the stories emerging from the exhibition floor highlight its enduring relevance to the industry. For some participants, it is a place to connect with new suppliers or distributors. For others, it opens the door to new markets. Many entrepreneurs who once walked the aisles as visitors and buyers now return as exhibitors, marking an important milestone in their journey. Through these experiences, AAHAR continues to serve as a trusted platform where businesses in the food and hospitality sector come together to connect, grow, and expand.
References
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
https://www.itpo.gov.in/assets/images/aahar-2026-delhi/pdf/aahar-2026-fact-at-glance.pdf
***
PIB Research
(Release ID: 2240075) Visitor Counter : 59
