Gujarat emerging as key growth hub for restaurant industry: NRAI

The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has identified Gujarat as a significant growth market for the country's restaurant and food services industry, citing expansion across Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot, as well as new opportunities around GIFT City. The observations were made ahead of the 5th NRAI Food Delivery Summit 2026, scheduled for 20 August in Ahmedabad.

Ahmedabad alone has over 20,000 restaurants, with the sector estimated to be growing at 10-12% annually. NRAI has more than 500 members across the four cities. The association noted growing acceptance of premium dining, international cuisines and experience-led formats, and said home-grown brands from Gujarat are expanding beyond the state with potential to scale nationally and internationally.

The state's infrastructure push, including Ahmedabad hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and India's bid for the 2036 Olympics, is expected to drive further demand. NRAI said it will work with stakeholders to bring the restaurant industry into these conversations. GIFT City's growing financial ecosystem is also creating opportunities for business dining, corporate catering and premium food formats.