Food with Feeling: Godrej Food Trends Report 2025 Unfolds Seasonality, Storytelling, and the Rise of Regional Revival

• Godrej Vikhroli Cucina unveils the 8th edition of the report through an immersive food theatre experience

Mumbai, 19^th May 2025 – The curtain rose, the table was set, and the future of food took centre stage. At a spectacular showcase in Mumbai, Godrej Vikhroli Cucina launched the eighth edition of the Godrej Food Trends Report (GFTR) 2025 in a way India has never seen before - through an evocative food theatre performance titled Feast for the Future. Themed “Seasons,” this year’s edition was unveiled not through conventional speeches or slides, but through storytelling, satire, and sensory drama that celebrated food as memory, identity, and emotion.

Based on contributions from over 190 culinary voices, including chefs, nutritionists, mixologists, food writers, and entrepreneurs, the 2025 edition of the report offers a deep dive into the forces shaping India’s evolving food and beverage landscape. Seasonality takes centre stage, with 82% of experts pointing to a renewed consumer focus on local, seasonal produce and culturally rooted ingredients. This revival is influencing everything, from fine dining to home cooking, signalling a return to intuitive, time-and-place-based eating.

A Deeper Connection to Seasonality

Speaking on the theme, Tanya Dubash, Executive Director & Chief Brand Officer, Godrej Industries Limited and Associate Companies, shared:

“At Godrej Industries Group, food is more than sustenance, it is culture, identity, memory, and possibility. That belief is what powers the Godrej Food Trends Report, our annual labour of insight and imagination. Since 2018, with insights from over 2,000 food experts, the report has captured the pulse of our evolving foodscape — from mindful eating and culinary nostalgia to the rise of indigenous ingredients and beyond. Today, the report plays an even deeper role. GFTR has evolved into a strategic lens through which new products, menus, and food narratives are being shaped. This year, we explore the theme of seasonality. As the world embraces authenticity and sustainability, seasonal eating, once second nature to us, is making a meaningful comeback”

Report Highlights

The report notes that 74% of experts predict a surge in immersive, multi-course tasting menus, driven by the rise of experiential dining. 66% highlight frozen snacks as an everyday essential, with products like momos, kebabs, and burger patties gaining gourmet status in Indian home kitchens. Another 85% point to Himalayan cuisines as a growing trend, owing to their clean-label appeal, sustainability, and ingredient-led storytelling.

Meanwhile, 78% of contributors foresee a growing demand for heritage alcohols such as feni and mahua. Goa has been crowned the top food destination of the year by 89% of experts, thanks to its blend of hyperlocal ingredients, global culinary influence, and thriving food tourism scene. The launch of the Godrej Food Trends Report 2025 showcased prominent brands such as Crazy Cock Single Malt Whisky, Six Brothers Mahura, Simba Beer, and Sula Wines, all of whom served as experience partners for the evening that reflected the report’s cultural and sensory themes.

Abhay Parnerkar, CEO, Godrej Foods Limited, added:

“At Godrej Foods Limited, we are proud to partner with Vikhroli Cucina to present the Godrej Food Trends Report 2025 in such a powerful, culture-forward format. As a food company deeply embedded in Indian kitchens, understanding emerging consumer preferences is central to how we innovate—from product development to brand storytelling. For us at GFL, this partnership reinforces our commitment to staying ahead of the curve while celebrating India’s rich culinary heritage in a format that informs and inspires.”

The Launch: A Theatrical Reveal of Food’s Future

The theatrical experience brought to life a vibrant mix of characters, a fine-dining purist, a frozen food loyalist, a heritage-obsessed traditionalist, and a social media-fuelled foodie, each representing a different lens through which modern India experiences food. Their playful conflict and eventual resolution set the stage for the unveiling of the year’s key culinary trends, delivered not as static insights, but as lived experiences.

“The idea was to move away from simply revealing trends, and instead stage them—let people feel them,” said Gia Singh Arora, Curator of the theatrical experience. “Food is inherently emotional. This performance allowed the audience to confront their own biases, preferences, and beliefs—leaving them entertained, but also introspective.”

Bhupendra Suri, CEO, Creamline Dairy Products Ltd., said:

“Dairy is more than an ingredient—it is the essence of purity and a cornerstone of our culinary traditions. At Creamline Dairy Products, we take pride in upholding this legacy, ensuring every offering reflects the trust and nourishment that Indian families have cherished for generations. Being associated with Vikhroli Cucina and the Godrej Food Trends Report 2025 is a privilege, as it aligns perfectly with our vision to champion authenticity and mindful consumption. This partnership not only celebrates the cultural significance of food but also fosters meaningful conversations about the evolving role of dairy in modern lifestyles.”

Editor’s Note: Food as Story, Season, and Sensory Journey

Reflecting on the editorial vision, Rushina Munshaw Ghildiyal, Managing Director of Perfect Bite Consulting and Curating Editor of the Godrej Food Trends Report, said:

“The idea for this year’s edition came to life as I stood amidst saffron fields in Pampore and experienced the Ittar-making traditions of Kannauj. These journeys reminded me that our relationship with food is rooted in cycles—of climate, culture, and memory. The 2025 report brings to light how food continues to be more than sustenance—it is storytelling, activism, creativity, and comfort. As India embraces a more mindful, seasonally attuned way of eating, I believe the conversations sparked by this edition will nourish more than just our plates.”

A Voice from the Culinary World

Celebrity Chef Amrita Raichand, who attended the launch, reflected on the experience:

“As a chef, I’ve read countless trend reports but to witness one unfolds as a theatrical performance was truly something else. It wasn’t just information being shared; it was emotion, conflict, and celebration all playing out through food. It reminded me that food isn’t static on a page or a screen, it’s alive, dynamic, and deeply personal. The Future Feast brought the trends to life in a way that was as thought-provoking as it was entertaining. I walked away inspired, not just as a professional, but as someone who loves food in all its forms.”

A Legacy of Insight, A Future of Impact

Since its inception in 2018, the Godrej Food Trends Report has become a cornerstone in food trend forecasting, over the course of 8 editions multiple predictions have come true from spotlighting the return of millets to korean foods dominating the Indian culinary scene.

With the 2025 edition, Godrej Vikhroli Cucina sets a new benchmark—not only in how we talk about food, but how deeply we engage with its meaning. As the curtain fell on The Future Feast, one thing was clear: the future of food in India is as thoughtful as it is theatrical.

Godrej Food Trends Report 2025 is available for download at www.vikhrolicucina.com . The top twelve trends for 2025 are as depicted in the infographic below: