The food industry has become the second-largest job creator in India, employing over 85 lakh people, with the number expected to surpass 1 crore shortly, according to Sagar Daryani, President of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI).
Speaking at the NRAI Food Delivery Summit 2025, Daryani highlighted the sector’s massive economic impact, noting that it has grown to become the third-largest industry in the country. “To put it in perspective, the food industry is 30 times bigger than Bollywood,” he remarked.
The summit brought together 1,500 restaurateurs under one roof, united by a shared goal: to make food delivery a profitable, sustainable, and inclusive ecosystem that benefits everyone from restaurant owners and aggregators to customers and the broader community.
At the same event, Sandeep Anand Goyle, Delhi Chapter Head of NRAI, urged the government to give the association a voice in policymaking concerning the food sector. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta was also present at the summit.
Prominent industry leaders such as Riyaaz Amlani (Impresario Entertainment), Kabir Suri (Azure Hospitality), Zorawar Kalra (Massive Restaurants), and Anshul Gupta (EatClub) were among the key speakers.
The NRAI has been increasingly vocal about its concerns with food aggregators like Zomato and Swiggy. In January 2025, it announced plans to approach the Competition Commission of India (CCI) regarding the “private labeling” practices of these platforms. Earlier that month, the association met Union Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss industry challenges. Daryani later posted that the Minister promised swift action and support.
This is not the first time the NRAI has taken a stand. Back in 2021, it filed a formal complaint with the CCI accusing Zomato and Swiggy of abusing their dominant positions by levying high commissions, misusing consumer data, and promoting their own cloud kitchens unfairly. The CCI launched an investigation into the matter in 2022.