MAM
Ajeenkya DY Patil University to host Inaugural Young Chef Young Waiter Competition 2024
Mumbai: Ajeenkya DY Patil University (ADYPU), known for state of the art infrastructure by providing quality education hosted the launch of much-acclaimed Young Chef Young Waiter (YCYW) 2024 on 18 January 2024 in Mumbai. Having encouraged and inspired the global hospitality community for over four decades, the competition is now being held for the very first time in India.
Inaugurated in 1979 in the UK in partnership with UK Hospitality and the Restaurant Association to promote hospitality as a career of choice, the competition has been supported by professionals in this field for over 45 years.
Restaurant Association UK chairman and president, Dr Robert Walton MBE said, ” The Young Chef Young Waiter competition has a storied history of discovering and celebrating talent in the hospitality industry. Hosting this event at Ajeenkya DY Patil University adds a new and exciting dimension, especially as we resonate with the university’s dedication to encouraging out-of-the box thinking. We keenly await new flavours and experiences from India.”
World Young Chef Young Waiter managing director, Sean Valentine said “The YCYW competition will be the perfect launchpad for young Indian talent to build global networks and learn from the very best. We want to spotlight India as a rising giant in hospitality excellence.’
The confluence of principles between the university and the Young Chef, Young Waiter competition is striking. Both organizations value ingenuity, innovative thinking, and a can-do attitude and aspire to nurture talent and encourage youth to consider professional culinary arts and hospitality pursuits. The competition thus intends to propel professional growth for young student chefs and service trainees by testing their skills under pressure and helping them learn from industry experts across the world.
Ajeenkya DY Patil University president and Chairman, Dr Ajeenkya DY Patil said, “We are thrilled to host the YCYW competition and join in the celebration of the rising stars in India’s vibrant hospitality segment. By providing a global platform for young talent, we hope to spotlight Indian culinary arts and service excellence while inspiring wider interest in this industry. We are proud to be associated with this initiative, and we look forward to seeing the extraordinary skills that young professionals will bring to the table.”
The competition will be judged by Chef Mario Perara and Chef Cyrus Todiwala, both highly acclaimed in their fields. It will start with an initial screening of applications, followed by India final and the finalist further competing at the world stage.
Celebrity Chef Cyrus Todiwala OBE DL, Café Spice, United Kingdom said, “Indian cuisine and service standards have made their mark globally. In fact, the country has seen praiseworthy growth in culinary excellence and service standards in the last decade. We are delighted to bring this global competition to India to celebrate the immense potential of local talent on the world stage.”
The Dorchester executive chef Mario Pereira said, “I’m thrilled to judge the creative talents of India’s next generation of hospitality heroes. This is a great opportunity for them to show the world that they have what it takes to leave a mark on the hospitality industry worldwide,”
Registration for the competition will open on January 18 and continue until June 15.
Aspiring participants can register themselves on https://youngchefyoungwaiter.com/india.
MAM
Pulse launches 7th Loyalty Day with #PulseUpYourDrink campaign
Runs May 1 to 15, invites fans to create drinks, 100 winners get merchandise.
MUJMBAI: If candy had a cocktail hour, Pulse is ready to stir things up literally. The Dharampal Satyapal Group’s confectionery brand has rolled out the seventh edition of Pulse Loyalty Day, anchored by a new digital-first campaign, #PulseUpYourDrink, running from May 1 to May 15, 2026. The idea: turn a tangy candy into a creative ingredient, and let consumers do the mixing. Tapping into a growing trend of flavour experimentation, especially among Gen Z and millennials, the campaign invites fans to create mocktails and beverages using Pulse candy. The format leans heavily on user-generated content, with participants encouraged to share their creations on social media by tagging @passpass_pulse.
To kick things off, a set of chefs will introduce Pulse-inspired mocktail recipes, setting the base for fans to remix and reinterpret. Actor Mannara Chopra joins the campaign to amplify reach, signalling a continued focus on youth engagement.
The activation is designed to play out across the digital ecosystem, with nano and micro influencers driving participation and conversation. As an added incentive, 100 participants will win Pulse-branded merchandise, blending fandom with rewards.
Pulse, which has led the hard-boiled candy segment for the past nine years, is increasingly positioning itself as more than just a product leaning into culture, community and online behaviour. Loyalty Day, now in its seventh edition, has evolved into a recurring digital moment where consumers actively co-create the brand narrative.
The strategy is clear: keep the flavour familiar, but the engagement fresh. Because in today’s attention economy, even a candy needs to stay in the mix.
