The Mumbai chapter of KFC Sahyog Program was hosted in collaboration with the Chamber for Advancement of Small and Medium Businesses (CASMB) at Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) Mumbai. The event, which focused on enhancing food safety, regulatory practices, and collaborative industry advancements, brought together key players from the food and hospitality sectors. Taking place from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm, the program attracted industry experts, government officials, and regulatory authorities, fostering important discussions and knowledge sharing on vital food safety practices.

The inaugural session began with a welcome by Dr. Aman Gupta, a notable representative of the Indian Food Industry with WHO Codex, Chairman of the Restaurant Committee at the Retailers Association of India (RAI), and the Corporate Affairs National Lead for Yum India. Dr. Gupta introduced the esteemed guests, including Aman Lal, Chief - People & SCM Officer, KFC India, and Deepak Taluja, CEO of Sapphire Foods India who emphasized KFC India’s commitment to food safety and regulatory alignment.

As part of the program, KFC trained 100 restaurants in Mumbai in 2022 and will now work with 100 more local restaurants & food joints in the city, helping them in business growth through training modules in food safety & hygiene, customer service, profitability and more. KFC’s India Sahyog program was launched in 2020; and is conducted in association with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) and the Food Safety and Training Certification (FoSTaC) program of FSSAI; and aims to support 1000 restaurants across India by the end of 2024. 

Highlights of the Inaugural Session

Dr. Rajesh Narvekar (IAS), FDA Commissioner, Govt. of Maharashtra, delivered the Chief Guest address, sharing insights on Maharashtra's regulatory approaches to safeguarding food standards.

Aman Lal, who shared insights on KFC India’s commitment to ensuring food safety and supporting responsible food service operations.

Gautam Jain, Director of Finance & Advocacy at RAI, who discussed the role of advocacy in promoting sustainable practices within the food service industry.

Prof. Aniruddha B Pandit, Vice Chancellor of ICT, who highlighted ICT's dedication to advancing research in
food safety.

Panel Discussion on Food Safety Challenges

Following the inaugural session, an expert panel discussion addressed the Role of Food Safety & Regulatory Challenges in Food Service Establishments. Moderated by Dr. Aman Gupta, the panel included FDA officials such as Anupama Patil, along with Dr. Debabrata Kanungo, an Expert Committee Member of FSSAI. The panel discussed critical issues such as food safety regulations, food additives, and effective strategies for
ensuring compliance across food service establishments.

Fostac Training for Food Handlers

As part of KFC India’s Sahyog Program, a dedicated Fostac training session was also conducted by Farm to Fork Solutions, KFC’s training partner. This session aimed at creating awareness on food safety and safe food handling practices among food handlers from diverse organizations, highlighting the importance of adhering to stringent food safety standards.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Dr. Aman Gupta and Dr. Umesh Kamble, reinforcing the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing food safety and regulatory excellence in India. The Sahyog Program showcased KFC India’s dedication to supporting the food industry through regulatory insights, safety standards, and training, aligning with its mission to uphold the highest standards of food quality and safety.

KFC has been continually making efforts to grow the local food industry in the country. In the past, KFC India and FSSAI have pioneered a street food vendor training of over 1500 street food vendors across 4 states on food safety parameters. Additionally, the brand also undertook a Food Safety Officers capability enhancement program along with the State Food Safety Authorities.