Malls put eateries under scrutiny amid crackdown

New Delhi: Major Indian malls are tightening regulations on eateries within their premises amid intensified regulatory scrutiny, according to executives familiar with the developments. Food and beverage (F&B) tenants are receiving fresh alerts emphasizing strict adherence to hygiene and food safety protocols, as regulators across Maharashtra and Karnataka have launched crackdowns on non-compliance.

DLF Malls, Phoenix Group, and Prestige have all issued reinforced guidelines to hundreds of restaurants, cafes, and bars in recent weeks, with operators across tier-1 and 2 cities following suit.

Mall operators stress that while they routinely monitor critical protocols like food hygiene and fire safety, recent violations have brought these lapses into the public eye, potentially tarnishing the reputation of the entire shopping complex. Executives say breaches carry severe consequences, including contract penalties and reputational damage for both the restaurant and the mall itself. The message is clear: there is zero tolerance for food safety lapses.

For Nexus Select Malls, a Blackstone-backed private equity firm, such breaches are not just detrimental to individual restaurants but also to the overall credibility of the mall. With over 135 million consumer footfalls annually, maintaining high food safety standards is integral to their business model. Similar actions have been taken against KFC's godown in Mangaluru's City Center Mall, Punjab Grill in Seawood Mall, and Domino's in R-City Mall in Mumbai, highlighting the gravity of the situation.