-APS Noorpuri
Chandigarh, September 18: Punjab needs to move beyond being merely a source of raw material and transform its agricultural strength and culinary heritage into globally competitive food products and brands, Rakhee Gupta Bhandari, Principal Secretary, Department of Food Processing, Government of Punjab, said on Friday.
Speaking at CHEFEX India 2026, she said, “Punjab’s next food revolution will be about transforming the strength of our farms and the richness of our culinary heritage into greater value and global opportunity. At CHEFEX, our message to chefs and the hospitality industry is simple: don’t just source from Punjab, create with Punjab.”
She said bringing farmers, food entrepreneurs, chefs and hospitality professionals together could turn the “farm-to-fork” vision into a reality and take Punjab’s flavours to global markets.
Future of gastronomy and AI-driven technology in hospitality emerge as key themes at CHEFEX
The three-day B2B exhibition, organised by the PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) from September 18 to 20 at Parade Ground, Sector 17, Chandigarh, brings together stakeholders from the food processing, catering, hospitality and restaurant sectors. The exhibition will be formally inaugurated by Hon’ble Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria on Saturday, September 19.
PHDCCI Punjab Chair Karan Gilhotra said, “Today was a powerful reminder of how vibrant Punjab’s food and hospitality sector truly is. Having 700 chefs in white coats walk through CHEFEX India 2026 brought incredible energy to the exhibition and conclave. Seeing industry leaders engage deeply with real-world solutions — from adopting cutting-edge kitchen technology to scaling food businesses and shaping the future of gastronomy — proves that our region is not just keeping up with global trends; we are ready to lead them.”
He said CHEFEX was designed to connect chefs, restaurateurs, hoteliers, food entrepreneurs, suppliers and technology providers, creating a platform for collaboration, innovation and business opportunities across the food and hospitality ecosystem.
The inaugural ceremony of CHEFEX India 2026 will be held on Saturday, September 19, and will be inaugurated by the Hon’ble Governor of Punjab, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria.