Mumbai, Apr 30: Godrej Vikhroli Cucina, the culinary owned media property of Godrej Industries Group, unveiled the Godrej Food Trends Report 2026 (GFTR 2026) with an exclusive launch at Tasting India: Culinary Conversations, a three-day celebration of creative expressions around food and drink hosted at a bookstore in New Delhi. The by-invitation ‘feastival’ gathering brought together chefs, authors, historians, and media voices to spark early conversations around the trends shaping the future of food in India. The choice of a bookstore launch, an intimate space rooted in community and culture, reflected this year’s theme of “Stories”, making it the perfect setting for the launch.
This year’s edition highlights how food is increasingly experienced beyond taste, through the cultural, personal, and regional stories behind it. Experts emphasize how provenance, cultural memory, and human connection are becoming powerful drivers in defining value across the food ecosystem.
Reflecting on the editorial vision, Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, Managing Director of Perfect Bite Consulting and Curating Editor of the Godrej Food Trends Report said,
“Over the years, the Godrej Food Trends Report has grown into a trusted compass for India’s evolving culinary landscape, and it has been deeply rewarding to see many of its predictions come to life. From celebrating the diversity of Indian food to exploring provenance and seasonality, each edition has traced a new dimension of our culinary identity. In 2026, the report turns its focus to stories recognising that the true value of food today lies not just in ingredients or technique, but in the narratives of people, places, and traditions that shape every bite.”
The launch featured leading chefs such as Manish Mehrotra, Sadaf Hussain, and Shri Bala, alongside celebrated authors and historians like Sarla Razdan and Swapna Liddle. Prominent media voices including Kaveree Bamzai, Rajesh Tara, and Anubhutii Krishna also contributed to the dialogue, enriching the conversations that marked the unveiling of the report.
Speaking on the theme, Tanya Dubash, Executive Director & Chief Brand Officer, Godrej Industries Group said,
“Over the years, the Godrej Food Trends Report has evolved from simply observing India’s food industry to actively shaping the dialogue between data, tradition and the future of food. The 2026 edition explores the theme of storytelling the powerful narratives of provenance, people, and connection that increasingly define value in our food ecosystem. Recognising the vital role of female farmers in shaping sustainable agricultural practices and the growing focus on pet nutrition as an extension of mindful living, reflect how deeply our relationship with food continues to evolve.”
Now in its ninth edition, the World Gourmand Award-winning Godrej Food Trends Report draws insights from over 200 culinary voices including chefs, nutritionists, mixologists, food writers, and entrepreneurs. Since its inception in 2018, the report has become a defining voice in food trend forecasting, with many of its predictions shaping India’s culinary landscape.
Top Trends from GFTR 2026 – what do our experts say?
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Chatpata piquant flavours will rule palates: India will double down on its teekha-chatpatta roots as the food industry embraces maximalism by turning the volume on bold, piquant flavours. Expect “flavour-collision” dishes and mashups that create unapologetic, layered profiles and multi-sensory experiences.
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Female farmers will take center stage: The Indian female farmer, the invisible backbone of agriculture, will finally step into the light in 2026. Produce from women-led agri businesses will be celebrated as transparency, provenance and traditional ecological wisdom become premium storytelling assets.
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Mithai will go Indo-modern: The era of simple sugary treats is ending. Traditional sweets will transform into multi-sensory experiences with exciting texture mashups and adventurous flavour juxtapositions to stimulate the globalised Indian palate.
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Protein will go namkeen: Fatigue with sweet-centric protein products is sparking a savoury-first revolution in functional snacking. Protein-rich snacks will pivot toward namkeen profiles, with a surge in savoury protein bars inspired by bold Indian street-food flavours.
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Home cooking will evolve intelligently: Home cooking will evolve into a hybrid experience, blending high-quality, pre-prepared base preparations with the tactile joy of the final finish. This shift allows time-poor consumers to reclaim the emotional satisfaction of home cooking without labour-intensive prep
Sujit Patil, Chief Communications Officer, Godrej Industries Group added,
“As we unveil the 9th edition of the Godrej Food Trends Report, we celebrate a journey that began in 2018 with a simple ambition: to map India’s evolving culinary identity. Over the years, we have explored what, where and when of Indian food, its diversity, provenance, and seasonality. This year, we turn to the who and why through the theme of Stories, spotlighting the people, memories and cultural narratives that give every bite its meaning. As we move towards our 10th anniversary in 2027, this edition becomes a vital bridge between insight and emotion, reaffirming that the future of Indian food will be shaped by those who grow, cook, serve, and share it.”
This year, the report turns the spotlight on Storytelling. Moving beyond ingredients and formats, this edition asks deeper questions: Who tells our food stories? And how are they preserved, transformed, and amplified?
