India’s restaurants face a new test: winning trust

Amid ongoing regulator crackdowns and suspensions in major Indian cities like Mumbai and Bengaluru, restaurants across the industry must prioritize transparency and accountability to regain consumer trust, according to Divya Aggarwal, the chief growth officer at fine-dine chain Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality. While addressing existing hygiene issues is crucial, implementing these standards on the ground proves challenging for all players, Aggarwal told ET in an interview.

Despite increased awareness and conversation surrounding food safety, confusion persists due to the abundance of conflicting content on social media platforms. Impresario, which operates Social and Smoke House Deli, has seen a topline of ₹800 crore for the fiscal year 2026, with its primary growth engine being its delivery-only brand stores contributing 10-15% to the total.

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration recently suspended the licenses of four Domino's Pizza outlets for hygiene lapses and storage violations, while Karnataka's Food Safety and Drug Administration has also cited storage, expired ingredients, and hygiene issues at hotels such as Lalit Ashok, Radisson Blu, and Shangri-La.