2026.03.25
AAHAR is a comprehensive food and hospitality show that ITPO, an agency under India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has run since the 1980s. Everything from processed foods and spices to commercial kitchen equipment is lined up at once, and buyers from distribution and food service across India come to see it.
| Trade Show Name | AAHAR – The International Food & Hospitality Fair (41st edition) |
|---|---|
| Next dates | March 2–6, 2027 |
| Venue | Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi |
| Organizer | The 40th edition was jointly organized by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and ITPO (India Trade Promotion Organisation). Check the exhibitor prospectus for the organizing structure of the 41st edition |
| Official website | itpo.gov.in |
| Most recent edition | March 10-14, 2026 (40th edition). The partner country was Italy |
| Size | The 40th edition drew more than 125,000 visitors (organizer's figure) |
| Sectors covered | Processed foods, dairy, beverages, spices, confectionery and bakery, commercial kitchen equipment, hospitality equipment and services, food processing and packaging |
Because the organizer is the Indian government's trade promotion body, pavilions from state governments and public institutions stand alongside country pavilions from overseas. What sets AAHAR apart is that not only food manufacturers but also procurement staff from hotels and restaurant chains, and dealers in commercial equipment, gather in the same venue.
Bharat Mandapam sits inside the Pragati Maidan grounds in central New Delhi and can be reached by metro. The organizer announced that the 40th edition (March 2026) drew more than 125,000 visitors from India and abroad, with Italy taking part as the partner country.
It is a place to meet distributors and importers in India, along with procurement staff from hotels and restaurant chains, all within a short period. The thinner a category's presence in India, as with Japanese seasonings, dried ingredients, or confectionery, the more it is worth checking the reaction directly.
In buyer meetings, the first questions are the price and who will act as the importer. To sell food in India, the importer needs an FSSAI Central License and an Import Export Code (IEC). Deciding before you stand at the venue whether you will hold these yourself or leave them to a local importer keeps the discussion moving on the spot.
Booth applications are made through ITPO's official website. Since the show runs for five days, one option is to concentrate meetings in the first half and use the second half to look at stores.
In the Delhi capital region, it is not unusual for a counterpart's office or warehouse to be in Gurugram or Noida. Seeing stores and logistics sites before or after the show lets you judge for yourself whether the terms raised in a meeting are realistic.
STUDY TOUR · दौरा
We can put together a schedule around the show dates to visit local stores, commercial complexes, and logistics warehouses with cold chain facilities. We select the sites, arrange the meetings, and accompany you on the day.
STUDY TOUR
See stores and kitchens before or after the show
We guide you through retail, food service, e-commerce, and logistics sites. We also select the destinations and arrange the meetings.
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