{"id":53357,"date":"2026-07-31T12:27:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T06:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/2026\/07\/31\/hammer-management-marketing-services-brings-three-prestigious-national-culinary-competitions-to-ihe-expo-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T12:27:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T06:57:44","slug":"hammer-management-marketing-services-brings-three-prestigious-national-culinary-competitions-to-ihe-expo-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailynewsindia.co.in\/index.php\/2026\/07\/31\/hammer-management-marketing-services-brings-three-prestigious-national-culinary-competitions-to-ihe-expo-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Hammer Management & Marketing Services Brings Three Prestigious National Culinary Competitions to IHE Expo 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New Delhi [India], July 30:<\/strong> Three of India\u2019s leading national culinary competition platforms\u2014Valrhona Pastry Queen India 2026, Kolb Master Bakers Challenge India 2026, <\/em><\/strong>and AgroPure Culinary League 2026 \u2013 Battle of Besan<\/em><\/strong>\u2014will be held during the 8th India International Hospitality Expo (IHE Expo) 2026<\/em><\/strong> from 5 to 8 August 2026<\/em><\/strong> at the India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, NCR.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Co-organised by IHE Expo 2026<\/em><\/strong> and Hammer Management & Marketing Services<\/em><\/strong> in association with Bakery Review<\/em><\/strong>, the three nationally recognised competitions celebrate culinary excellence while creating meaningful opportunities for professional women pastry chefs, professional bakers and home cooks<\/em><\/strong> to showcase their skills before an eminent jury and the wider hospitality and foodservice industry.<\/p>\n

Valrhona Pastry Queen India 2026<\/em><\/strong> will feature the top eight professional female pastry chefs<\/em><\/strong>, selected from entries received from across India. Kolb Master Bakers Challenge India 2026<\/em><\/strong> will bring together the country\u2019s top eight professional bakers<\/em><\/strong>, while AgroPure Culinary League 2026 \u2013 Battle of Besan<\/em><\/strong> will see eight shortlisted teams of two home cooks<\/em><\/strong> compete live by presenting innovative dishes using AgroPure besan<\/em><\/strong> as the hero ingredient. Together, these competitions celebrate excellence, creativity and craftsmanship<\/em><\/strong> across professional and home kitchens.<\/p>\n

IHE Expo 2026<\/em><\/strong> is expected to attract over 25,000 B2B visitors, more than 1,000 exhibiting brands from 16+ countries, and over 100 industry leaders, speakers and experts.<\/em><\/strong> The exhibition serves as one of India\u2019s largest business platforms for the hospitality and foodservice industry, bringing together hotel owners, executive chefs, bakers, restaurateurs, procurement professionals, distributors, institutional buyers, culinary educators, students, ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers and technology providers.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Three National Platforms Celebrating Culinary Excellence<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The 5th edition of Valrhona Pastry Queen India 2026<\/em><\/strong>, to be held on 5 and 6 August<\/em><\/strong>, is dedicated to professional women pastry chefs<\/em><\/strong> from across India. This year\u2019s theme, \u201cThe Dance of Birds\u201d<\/em><\/strong>, challenges participants to translate the elegance and movement of birds into artistic pastry creations while demonstrating excellence in chocolate work, sugar artistry, plated desserts and viennoiserie.<\/em><\/strong> The competition will evaluate creativity, technical precision, craftsmanship and execution<\/em><\/strong> under live competition conditions.<\/p>\n

The finalists will be evaluated by an eminent jury comprising Chef Avijit Ghosh, Dr. Balendra Singh, Dr. Parvinder Singh Bali, Mister Tikku, Sourish Bhattacharyya, Chef Rakesh Sethi, Chef Gauri Verma, Ankit Sahni, Raminder Bakshi and Chef Ramachandra Ganeshan<\/em><\/strong>, bringing together some of India\u2019s most respected pastry chefs, culinary educators, food experts and hospitality industry leaders.<\/p>\n

On 7 August<\/em><\/strong>, the Kolb Master Bakers Challenge India 2026<\/em><\/strong> will bring together the country\u2019s most accomplished bakery professionals. The competition is designed to assess technical expertise across artisan breads, bakery production, fermentation, dough handling, baking precision and consistency<\/em><\/strong>, reflecting the skills required in modern commercial bakeries and professional kitchens.<\/p>\n

The finalists will be evaluated by an eminent jury comprising Kazem Samandari, Chef Sehaj Ghuman, Mohammed Nauman Qureshi and Chef Robin Batra<\/em><\/strong>, representing some of the country\u2019s most respected bakery professionals, pastry experts and hospitality leaders.<\/p>\n

The competitions will conclude on 8 August<\/em><\/strong> with AgroPure Culinary League 2026 \u2013 Battle of Besan<\/em><\/strong>, a unique national platform exclusively for home cooks<\/em><\/strong>. Eight shortlisted teams<\/em><\/strong>, each comprising two home cooks<\/em><\/strong>, will compete live by preparing innovative dishes using besan<\/em><\/strong> as the central ingredient, celebrating India\u2019s rich culinary heritage while encouraging creativity, teamwork and contemporary cooking techniques.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The finalists will be evaluated by an eminent jury comprising Chef Anuraag Narsingani, Dr. Balendra Singh, Chef Nishant Choubey and Chef Vineet Manocha<\/em><\/strong>, bringing together some of India\u2019s most respected culinary professionals, hospitality leaders and culinary educators.<\/p>\n

Beyond recognising culinary excellence, the competitions will provide hospitality professionals with an opportunity to witness ingredients, equipment, techniques and professional workflows<\/em><\/strong> in action. The live competition format enables chefs, hospitality businesses, suppliers, educators and buyers<\/em><\/strong> to exchange ideas, discover emerging talent and experience products in real working environments.<\/p>\n

PTC Punjabi Channel<\/em><\/strong> is the Official Telecast Partner<\/em><\/strong> for all three competitions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIHE Expo 2026 is designed to bring the hospitality industry together around business, knowledge and practical engagement. These three competitions will add strong professional value to the exhibition by allowing visitors to observe talent, techniques, ingredients and equipment in live working conditions. We look forward to welcoming chefs, bakers, food entrepreneurs, hospitality institutions and industry partners to the India Expo Centre & Mart in Greater Noida,\u201d<\/em> said Rakesh Kumar, Chairman, India Exposition Mart Limited (IEML).<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEach competition has been created for a distinct talent group while connecting participants with the wider hospitality and foodservice industry. Pastry Queen India gives professional women pastry chefs a demanding national stage, Master Bakers Challenge recognises the skills of working bakers, and Culinary League creates visibility for accomplished home cooks. We want every participant to approach the platform with confidence, discipline and the determination to present their best work before the industry,\u201d<\/em> said Sanjay Anand, Co-founder and Director, Hammer Management & Marketing Services.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Event Details<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Valrhona Pastry Queen India 2026: 5\u20136 August 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Kolb Master Bakers Challenge India 2026:<\/em> 7 August 2026<\/p>\n

AgroPure Culinary League 2026 \u2013 Battle of Besan:<\/em> 8 August 2026<\/p>\n

Venue: India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, NCR<\/em><\/p>\n

IHE Expo 2026: 5\u20138 August 2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Co-organised by IHE Expo 2026<\/em><\/strong> and Hammer Management & Marketing Services<\/em><\/strong> in association with Bakery Review<\/em><\/strong>, Valrhona Pastry Queen India, Kolb Master Bakers Challenge India and AgroPure Culinary League \u2013 Battle of Besan<\/em><\/strong> are nationally recognised culinary competition platforms that celebrate excellence while connecting professional women pastry chefs, professional bakers and women home chefs<\/em><\/strong> with the hospitality and foodservice industry.<\/p>\n

Through structured, skill-based competitions, these platforms promote craftsmanship, innovation and professional growth<\/em><\/strong> across the culinary ecosystem.<\/p>\n

For more information, visit:<\/strong><\/p>\n