New chapter aims to unite restaurant and hospitality businesses across six districts, strengthening industry representation in one of Maharashtra’s fastest-growing food service markets.
The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has strengthened its footprint in Maharashtra with the launch of its Western Maharashtra Chapter in Kolhapur, marking the association’s third chapter in the state and reinforcing its focus on deeper regional engagement as India’s restaurant industry expands beyond major metropolitan markets.
The new chapter brings together restaurant owners, operators and hospitality stakeholders from Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Ratnagiri, Solapur and Sindhudurg, providing a common platform to address regional challenges, exchange best practices and create growth opportunities for food service businesses. The launch event was held in the presence of Madhureemaraje Malojiraje Chhatrapati as Chief Guest.
The initiative comes at a time when Western Maharashtra is emerging as an increasingly important market for India’s restaurant and hospitality sector. Known for its rich culinary traditions, strong entrepreneurial culture and growing tourism appeal, the region has witnessed rising consumer demand across both organised and independent food service formats. Industry observers note that the ongoing growth of domestic tourism is creating new opportunities for restaurant and hospitality businesses in Tier-II and Tier-III cities, encouraging investment and innovation beyond traditional urban centres.
According to Pranav Rungta, Vice President of NRAI and Director of Mint Hospitality Pvt. Ltd., India’s restaurant sector is increasingly being shaped by regional ecosystems that bring unique culinary strengths, consumer insights and entrepreneurial energy to the industry. He noted that the growth of domestic travel is helping local restaurant markets evolve while creating stronger demand across emerging destinations. NRAI’s objective, he said, is to deepen industry engagement in these markets and connect regional businesses with the broader national restaurant ecosystem.
The association believes Western Maharashtra’s distinctive food culture and hospitality landscape offer significant opportunities for collaboration, innovation and industry growth. The chapter will serve as a channel for advocacy, networking and knowledge-sharing while enabling businesses to address location-specific operational and regulatory issues more effectively.
Western Maharashtra has become an increasingly attractive market due to the combined influence of tourism destinations such as Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, a thriving local food culture and rising consumer spending on dining experiences. Improved connectivity and a growing preference for regional cuisine are also contributing to the expansion of organised food service businesses across the region.
Parth Ujjwal Nageshkar, Chapter Head, NRAI Western Maharashtra, said the region’s food and hospitality ecosystem combines a strong culinary identity with evolving consumer expectations. He described the new chapter as an opportunity to bring together diverse stakeholders, foster collaboration and create new avenues for growth across the region.
With more than 500,000 restaurants represented through its national network, NRAI has been actively expanding its regional presence to ensure local restaurant communities have a stronger voice in industry discussions. The launch of the Western Maharashtra Chapter reflects the association’s broader strategy of building stronger regional ecosystems and supporting the next phase of growth in India’s food service industry.
Get real time update about this post category directly on your device, subscribe now.
