Three-day event to be held from September 18 to 20 at Parade Ground, Sector 17; Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria to be Chief Guest on September 19

Chandigarh, September 17: How can a successful chef move beyond managing a kitchen and build a large, profitable food business? How can restaurant brands expand across cities while maintaining food quality, consistency and profitability? These key issues will be discussed at ChefEx India 2026, a three-day exhibition focused on the food, hospitality and catering industry, being held from September 18 to 20 at Parade Ground, Sector 17, Chandigarh.

At a press conference held at Hotel Aroma on Thursday, members of the organising committee of the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, including Saurabh Munjal, Hardeep Singh and Manmohan Kohli, shared details of the event.

The exhibition will bring together chefs, restaurant owners, food entrepreneurs, hospitality professionals, industry experts and suppliers associated with the food and hospitality ecosystem.

Focus on the Journey from Chef to CEO

The first day of ChefEx India 2026 will focus on the theme “The Convergence of Hospitality and Food Entrepreneurship.” One of the key discussions will be “From Chef to CEO: Building a Successful Food Brand.”

The session will explore several aspects of running and scaling a food business, including kitchen operations, profit-and-loss management, standardised processes, delegation of responsibilities, unit-level revenues and expenses, and restaurant-level profitability.

The discussion will also cover how food businesses can maintain consistency in taste and quality across multiple outlets, manage supply chains, retain employees, improve margins and raise capital for expansion.

Saurabh Munjal, Co-Chairman, Punjab, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Punjab’s rich food culture and strong entrepreneurial spirit can create significant opportunities in the food and hospitality sector.

He said ChefEx aims to connect Punjab’s culinary heritage with the modern food, catering and hospitality business ecosystem.

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria will be the Chief Guest at ChefEx on September 19.

PHD Chamber Deputy Secretary General Naveen Seth said the hospitality sector is undergoing rapid transformation due to technology, entrepreneurship and changing consumer preferences. Through ChefEx, the Chamber is attempting to bring the wider food and hospitality ecosystem together on a common platform.

Discussion on Giving Indian Cuisine a Global Identity

The first day will also feature a Chef Conference on “The Future of Indian Cuisine and Professional Culinary Leadership.” The conference will focus on the theme “Taking Indian Cuisine Towards Global Leadership.”

Chef Manjeet Gill, President of the Indian Federation of Culinary Associations, said India’s rich culinary heritage can gain greater global recognition by combining traditional food culture with modern technology, innovation, sustainable practices and strong culinary leadership.

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria to Attend on Day Two

Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria will be the Chief Guest on the second day of the event.

The programme will include a welcome address by Naveen Seth, followed by the keynote address by Karan Gilhotra, Chairman, PHD Chamber Punjab, and an address by Chef Manjeet Gill.

Governor Kataria will subsequently address the gathering and honour partners and chefs associated with ChefEx. The PHD Chamber office-bearers will also felicitate the Governor.

Himani Arora, Chairperson of the Regional Fashion Textile Technical Forum and office-bearer of the PHD Chamber, said culinary skills alone are no longer sufficient in today’s hospitality industry. Innovation, structured processes, skilled human resources and an understanding of changing consumer expectations have also become essential.

Special Conversation Between Zorawar Kalra and Chef Harpal Sokhi

A key session on the second day will feature a special conversation between Zorawar Kalra, Founder and Managing Director of Massive Restaurants, and Chef Harpal Sokhi, Director of Turban Tadka Hospitality.

Chef Harpal Sokhi said today’s chefs need to understand customer preferences, branding, business models and the overall customer experience beyond food.

According to him, the future of the hospitality industry will depend on bringing together culinary creativity and strong business thinking.

Another panel discussion will focus on “Healthy Sweetness Solutions — The Future of Sweeteners,” bringing together experts from food technology, health, hospitality and culinary sectors.

Bringing the Food and Hospitality Ecosystem Together

The three-day event will bring together businesses and professionals associated with food and catering, hospitality supplies, food processing and retail.

Along with showcasing products and new technologies, ChefEx India 2026 will provide opportunities for business networking, knowledge exchange and discussions on the future direction of the hospitality industry.

The event is expected to provide a platform where culinary professionals, entrepreneurs, restaurant businesses, technology providers and hospitality stakeholders can explore new ideas and opportunities for the evolving food and hospitality sector.

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