- Swiggy honored 28 women restaurateurs and chefs from across the country redefining India’s Food & Hospitality Sector
- Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Minister of Tourism & Culture, Government of India graced the event as the Chief Guest
- The honorees included women chefs and entrepreneurs from Ahmedabad, including Niharika Shashi Kheria (Moi – The Dessert Studio), Payal Pathak (The Simply Salad), and Shreya Senapati (Spicy Signature).
AHMEDABAD, GUJARAT | 13th MARCH 2026 — Swiggy (NSE: SWIGGY/BSE: 544285), India’s pioneering on-demand convenience platform, recently organized the 2026 edition of ‘She The Change’ in New Delhi. This flagship initiative, with the tagline ‘From Vision to Venture’, celebrates women who are redefining India’s culinary and business landscape.
The Chief Guest, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, along with Sriharsha Majety, Co-Founder, MD and Group CEO, Swiggy, felicitated 28 women from the F&B industry across two categories—Entrepreneur of the Year and Chef of the Year. These awards recognized their contributions to culinary innovation and business success.
The honorees included women chefs and entrepreneurs from Ahmedabad, including Niharika Shashi Kheria (Moi – The Dessert Studio), Payal Pathak (The Simply Salad), and Shreya Senapati (Spicy Signature). This collective recognition highlights Ahmedabad’s growing influence as a hub for innovative and women-led food businesses.
Among the honorees, several entrepreneurs stood out for their inspiring journeys and contributions to Ahmedabad’s evolving food ecosystem.
Niharika Shashi Kheria, founder of Moi – The Dessert Studio, transformed her childhood passion for baking into a refined dessert brand rooted in craftsmanship. After pursuing formal culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu, London, she returned to Ahmedabad with a vision to create desserts that blend global techniques with Indian flavours. Today, her modest kitchen venture has grown into two dessert studios, known for their thoughtful creations and carefully crafted desserts.
Payal Pathak, founder of The Simply Salad, launched her venture in 2020 after her PG business collapsed during the pandemic. Since then The Simply Salad has gained momentum through social media and word of mouth, eventually earning national visibility when it featured in Shark Tank India in 2023. To further expand their reach, Payal also introduced workshops teaching healthy recipes globally. Today, The Simply Salad has become a well-known name in Ahmedabad—a city where traditional foods dominate—by making salads not just a dish but a lifestyle choice.
Shreya Senapati, founder of Spicy Signature, began her entrepreneurial journey in 2018 from her home kitchen, personally delivering each order. In 2022, she had to move her “home” business so she took the leap into a professional commercial kitchen. Over the years she faced many challenges, but she continued to grow her brand. Today, her journey stands as a testament to perseverance, showing how determination and passion can turn setbacks into opportunities.
She The Change was a curated gathering of pioneers, disruptors, and visionaries from India’s food industry reinforcing Swiggy’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs in the F&B sector. Swiggy currently has 70,000 women-run restaurants on its platform, and as per internal estimates, these entrepreneurs are generating close to 4,20,000 jobs, with each restaurant employing an average of six direct employees.
