The World Mithai & Namkeen Convention (WMNC) 2026 - Purchasing Edition will take place from July 16 to 18, 2026, at HITEX Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad, serving as India's premier pre-festive sourcing platform for the sweets and snacks industry valued at nearly ₹1.5 lakh crore.
Poster Unveiling Ceremony
The official poster of WMNC Purchasing 2026 was unveiled on July 7, 2026, at Nomme India's first Coffee Theatre in Banjara Hills, Hyderabad. The event was attended by leading entrepreneurs and industry representatives, including Mr. Firoz H. Naqvi, Director General of the Federation of Sweets & Namkeen Manufacturers (FSNM); Mr. Malli Babu, Managing Director of Suruchi Food and Vice President of FSNM South India; Mr. Hemant Gehlot, Managing Director of Mahender Mithaiwala; Mr. Dora Raju, Managing Director of Olive Sweets; Colonel Bhaskar of Almond House; Mr. Imtiaz Siddiqui, Managing Director of Gourmet Baklava; Mr. Jitesh Vakhariya of Rambharose; Mr. Nileesh Dedhia of Shri Shanti Supplies; and Mr. Srinivas of Balaji Sweets, Vijayawada.
Platform for the Entire Supply Chain
Positioned as "A Perfect Start to the Festive Season," the convention will bring together manufacturers, retailers, distributors, suppliers, technology providers, and business leaders. It will showcase the complete supply chain under one roof, including raw materials, dry fruits, nuts, ingredients, flavors, food processing machinery, packaging equipment, packaging materials, gifting solutions, automation technologies, and business services. Attendees can discover new suppliers, compare products, adopt modern technologies, and explore solutions to improve product quality, presentation, and shelf life.
Industry Leaders' Perspectives
Mr. Firoz H. Naqvi stated, "WMNC Purchasing 2026 has been created to strengthen India's mithai and namkeen ecosystem ahead of the festive season. It is much more than an exhibition—it is a complete business platform where manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and distributors can source quality products, discover innovative technologies, exchange ideas and build meaningful business partnerships. Hyderabad is proud to host this national convention, which will play a significant role in supporting the growth of India's sweets and snacks industry."
Knowledge Sessions and Workshops
The convention will feature knowledge sessions and workshops on procurement strategies, dry fruits and nuts sourcing, product preservation, shelf-life enhancement, bakery and mithai convergence, fusion products, premiumisation, modern retail opportunities, logistics, and automation. A special presentation by the Pasta Association will highlight emerging opportunities in the snacks and processed food segment.
Inaugural Ceremony and Partners
The inaugural ceremony will be attended by prominent South Indian food entrepreneurs, including Anumula Babu Rao of Cafe Niloufer, Mohammed Abdul Majeed of Pista House, Rajesh Dadu of Dadu's, Nagarjuna Muppala of Almond House, Poonamchand Panwar of Balaji Ratanlal Mithai Bhandar, and Sudhir Shah of Scoops Ice Cream. Almond House and Dadu's are the Title Partners, with support from Haldiram's, Pista House, Amul Mithai, Adani Spices, Balaji Ratanlal Mithai, VKC Nuts, Swani Enterprises, Nivriti Agro Food Products (Kitchen Smith), Paras Polymers, Prestair Systems LLP, Karachi Bakery, Girnar Food Machine Pvt. Ltd., and Vipin Aggarwal - The Saffron Expert.
Exhibitors and Visitor Expectations
With over 300 exhibitors and an expected footfall of more than 30,000 business visitors, the convention will feature leading companies such as Amul, KAP Group, Packezy Ventures, Swiss Pac, Rajshree Polypack, Milk Food Engineers, Girnar Food Machine Pvt. Ltd., Veripack ILPRA Group, Cilicant, Adani Food Products Pvt. Ltd., Zoho Corporation, California Walnut Commission, American Pecan Council, Moldtek Packaging Limited, Nilkamal Limited, Vijayshri Packaging Ltd., Bajaj Processpack Limited, Jhandewalas Foods, and VKC Nuts.
Special Attractions and Networking
A special attraction is the Fanna Babu Memorial WMNC Cricket League - Youth Forum, dedicated to the memory of Shri Shiv Ratan Agarwal of Bikaji International. This league will bring together young entrepreneurs and industry professionals for networking and relationship-building. On the final day, exclusive factory visits will provide delegates with practical exposure to modern manufacturing practices, advanced technologies, and operational excellence in the food industry.
Quotes from Industry Representatives
Mr. Malli Babu said, "WMNC Purchasing 2026 will create significant business opportunities for manufacturers, suppliers and retailers while enabling the industry to adopt new technologies, improve sourcing and strengthen its preparedness for the festive season." Mr. Dora Raju added, "The convention will serve as a valuable platform for knowledge sharing, innovation and collaboration, helping businesses enhance product quality and expand their market reach." Mr. Imtiaz Siddiqui noted, "Consumer preferences are evolving rapidly, and platforms like WMNC help businesses stay ahead by bringing together the entire value chain under one roof while encouraging innovation and premiumisation."
Invitation to Industry Participants
The organisers invite manufacturers, retailers, distributors, wholesalers, entrepreneurs, and allied businesses from across India to participate in WMNC Purchasing 2026 and leverage the sourcing, networking, and business opportunities offered by one of the country's largest gatherings for the mithai and namkeen industry.
