FICCI FLO, under the aegis of its Agriculture, Agro-Based & Food Processing Industry Initiative, organised an engaging panel discussion titled “The Women Behind What India Eats” on 2 July 2026 at FICCI Federation House, New Delhi. The session celebrated the inspiring journeys of trailblazing women entrepreneurs who are redefining India’s food industry through innovation, sustainability, and purpose-led businesses.
The event was conceptualised by Ms. Minal Jain, Lead, and Ms. Radhika Gupta, Co-Lead, of the Initiative. Welcoming the gathering, Ms. Puja Garg, National President, FICCI FLO, highlighted the transformative role women are playing across the food value chain, from food processing and nutrition to retail, hospitality, and food-tech. She emphasized that women entrepreneurs are building brands that successfully combine innovation, quality, and sustainability while responding to evolving consumer preferences.
The panel featured eminent industry leaders including Mrs. Rajni Bector, Founder, Mrs. Bector’s Food Specialities Ltd. and Cremica Group; Ms. Aditi Handa, Co-Founder and Head Chef, The Baker’s Dozen; and Ms. Pooja Singhal, Founder and CEO, Coriander. The discussion was moderated by Ms. Smita Mishra, Editor, Times of India Lifestyle, Times Food, and Times Travel.
The panelists shared candid insights into their entrepreneurial journeys, discussing the inspiration behind their ventures, the challenges of building successful brands, and the strategies that enabled them to create sustainable and scalable businesses. The conversation also explored emerging food trends, innovation and technology, sustainability, health and wellness, and evolving consumer preferences.
During her welcome address, 43rd National FLO President, Ms. Puja Garg, said: “Women are the silent architects of the Indian food ecosystem, custodians of traditional recipes, and culinary heritage.”
A key highlight of the programme was the FLO National Waste to Wealth Drive, organised under the FLO Greentech & Sustainability Initiative. A collection kiosk was set up at the venue for members to responsibly dispose of e-waste, including unused mobile phones, laptops, chargers, cables, earphones, and expired medicines.
Top Highlights
- The guest speakers highlighted the growing opportunities for women entrepreneurs in India’s rapidly expanding food ecosystem. They inspired FLO members by sharing their professional journeys of building innovative food businesses while tackling gender bias and limited access to funding.
- Drawing from her decades of experience, the Padam Shri awardee, Ms. Rajni Bector, reflected on transforming a small home-based ice cream and bakery venture into one of India’s leading food companies, Mrs Bectors Food Specialities. The Indian Industrialist built a large-scale food manufacturing business, which is an important supplier to global food chains, like Burger King, Domino’s, and KFC. Ms. Bector led her business by ensuring consistency in maintaining good food quality and winning customers’ trust.
- Ms. Aditi Handa discussed introducing artisan sourdough bread to the Indian market and scaling her food business, The Baker’s Dozen, into a nationally recognized bakery brand. Ms. Handa talked about the challenges women entrepreneurs face, such as gender bias, limited access to funding, balancing professional and personal responsibilities, building credibility in a male-dominated business environment, and overcoming societal stereotypes while scaling their ventures.
- Chartered Accountant, Ms. Pooja Singhal, shared the story behind building Coriander, a corporate/industrial catering service provider in Delhi NCR. Ms. Singhal highlighted the vision behind her business: encouraging healthier eating habits among corporate customers by providing them with fresh, nutritious, and hygienically prepared meals.
- Ms. Smita Mishra moderated a meaningful discussion, asking speakers about the latest innovations and trends in the food industry, including the growing use of AI to scale food businesses in India. AI technology is useful in inventory management, quality control, supply chain efficiency, and the generation of marketing content.
- The event reinforced FLO’s commitment to promoting responsible recycling and the principles of the circular economy.
Outcome
Women Behind What India Eats session received an excellent response from the FLO members as they learned the significance of perseverance, innovation, and technology in building a successful food business in India. Speakers advised present women entrepreneurs to build a business without compromising on quality or brand values. The session is a part of FICCI FLO’s efforts toward empowering women agripreneurs and micro-enterprises through training, mentorship, and capacity-building sessions.