The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) – the apex body representing the Indian Restaurant Industry – officially launched the NRAI Odisha Chapter on 4th December, at a landmark event in Bhubaneswar. The formation of this new chapter marks a significant milestone in strengthening the state’s food service ecosystem, boosting investments, and positioning Odisha as a leading culinary and tourism destination.
A unified movement for Odisha’s F&B community
Speaking on the occasion, Sameer Hans (Co-Founder, Bocca Café; Chapter Head, NRAI Odisha) said, “Odisha today has nearly 8,000 registered and non-registered restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens and F&B establishments. With the launch of this chapter, we aim to bring at least 1,500 of them under the NRAI umbrella within the next two years. This is more than a chapter launch—it is the beginning of a movement to unite Odisha’s culinary community, empower entrepreneurs, strengthen our policy voice, and showcase our unique food heritage to the nation.”
Strengthening Odisha’s culinary future
Sagar Daryani, President of NRAI, added, “Odisha’s culinary culture is one of India’s richest—from temple cuisine to tribal flavours to unique seafood traditions. With the Odisha Chapter, we now have a strong local leadership team that will focus on policy reforms, training, skilling, and investments. NRAI is committed to enabling Odisha’s homegrown brands to scale nationally and to attracting national and global players to the state. Together, we will build a thriving, modern, and inclusive restaurant ecosystem for Odisha.”
Investor confidence in Odisha’s hospitality sector
On the occasion, Punya Prakash Parida (Promoter, Embassy Club & upcoming Radisson Hotels) stated, “The NRAI Odisha Chapter is a game-changer for the state’s hospitality sector. Our investment commitment of over ₹1,000 crore in upcoming hotel and leisure projects reflects our belief in Odisha’s immense potential. NRAI will play an instrumental role in enabling ease of doing business, attracting global brands, and accelerating tourism-led growth.”
Panel: Odisha as an emerging culinary & tourism destination
A key highlight of the launch was a panel discussion titled “Odisha as an Emerging Culinary & Tourism Destination”, moderated by Satyabrat Sanu Ratho. The discussion explored the synergistic relationship between restaurants and tourism, and how they can jointly position Odisha globally. The panel featured insights from industry leaders including:
- Sagar Daryani (President, NRAI; CEO & Co-Founder, Wow! Momo)
- Aditya Ladsaria (NRAI Managing Committee Member; Co-founder, Chai Break)
- Punya Prakash Parida
- Deboo Patnaik (Founder, Dalma)
They discussed opportunities, challenges, and the road ahead for the state’s F&B and tourism sectors.
Focus areas for the new Odisha Chapter
The Odisha Chapter will prioritise:
- Advocacy for policy reforms and ease of doing business
- Fair GST practices
- Knowledge-sharing platforms and seminars
- Skilling and workforce development
- Facilitating investments and scaling local brands
- Attracting national and international F&B brands
Leadership team shaping the chapter
The chapter will be steered by a dedicated core committee:
- Chapter Head: Sameer Hans (Co-Founder, Bocca Cafe)
- Co-Chapter Head: M Tejeswar Rao (Director, Green Chillyz)
- Secretary: Sunmeet Singh Oberai (Founder, Oberai Bakers & Café)
- Joint Secretary: Chandini Samal (Director, Romeo Lane)
- Treasurer: Amit Singhania (Partner, Gocool)
