Jaipur. The sixth FAIC National Convention and Exhibition, CaterCon India 2026, one of the country’s largest national gatherings for the catering and hospitality industry, was inaugurated on Saturday at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC).
The three-day national convention, being organised from August 1 to 3 by the Federation of All India Caterers (FAIC) in association with the Jaipur Catering Association, was inaugurated by Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani.
The event witnessed the participation of entrepreneurs, exhibitors, manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, representatives from various states and thousands of professionals associated with the catering and hospitality industry from across the country.
The opening day marked the beginning of a major dedicated platform for India’s catering and food service sector, bringing together more than 3,000 registered delegates, over 500 exhibitors and thousands of business visitors. The convention aims to promote innovation, entrepreneurship, food safety, modern technology, skill development and business collaboration in the industry.
One of the major highlights of the inaugural day was the announcement and exchange of various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) involving proposed investments of more than Rs 1,000 crore. The investments are expected to boost infrastructure development, modern commercial kitchens, food processing, technological advancement, skill development and new business opportunities in the Indian catering, hospitality and food service sectors.
Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Speaker Vasudev Devnani said that the catering and hospitality industry plays an important role in employment generation, entrepreneurship, tourism and the economic growth of the state and the country. He emphasised the need to adopt innovation, skill development, food safety and quality standards to make the Indian catering industry globally competitive.
FAIC National President Narendra Somani said, “The sixth FAIC National Convention and Exhibition 2026 marks another historic milestone in the growth journey of our organisation. The confidence of investors and the industry in the Indian catering and hospitality sector continues to strengthen.”
Another major attraction of the convention was the FAIC Awards 2026. Under the prestigious national awards initiative launched by the Federation of All India Caterers, the top three caterers demonstrating excellence across 16 special categories from 18 states were honoured. The initiative is among the largest efforts in the history of the Indian catering industry to recognise state-wise excellence. The awards aim to promote quality, innovation, professional excellence and superior service while inspiring caterers across the country to set new benchmarks.
FAIC Honorary Senior General Secretary Kirit Budhdev said, “The sixth edition of the FAIC National Convention represents the continuous progress and unity of the Indian catering community. With every edition, our objective has been to bring catering professionals, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, suppliers and hospitality experts from across the country onto a common platform and give a new direction to the overall development of the industry.”
FAIC Vice-President Sunil Sonkhia said that the investment proposals announced during CaterCon India 2026 reflect the industry’s confidence in the bright future of the Indian catering and hospitality sector. He said the Jaipur edition was the largest national convention organised by FAIC so far, featuring knowledge-driven sessions, technical workshops, business networking, investment opportunities and the prestigious FAIC Awards 2026. He expressed confidence that the convention would open new avenues for delegates and provide a new direction to the future of the Indian catering industry.
The exhibition accompanying the convention was also inaugurated. More than 500 exhibitors showcased advanced commercial kitchen equipment, food processing technologies, hospitality solutions, packaging innovations, food products, beverages, software, logistics and other allied services. The exhibition received an enthusiastic response from industry representatives, buyers and business visitors looking for new products, technologies and potential business partnerships.
During the convention, internationally acclaimed motivational speaker and business coach Dr Vivek Bindra shared inspiring insights on entrepreneurship, leadership and business expansion. Renowned food safety expert Dr V. Pasupathi conducted technical sessions on FSSAI regulations, ISO 22000, HACCP, GMP and GHP, providing detailed information on food safety, quality management and global standards.