, Pankaj Deokar - India Food Forum

Pankaj Deokar

Position: VP - Ops, Vikram Kamats Hospitality
Categories: SPEAKERS 2025

A dynamic hospitality leader with over 25 years of experience in operations, business development, quick-service restaurants (QSR), and full-service management, Pankaj kicked off his career in 2000 with Rajdhani – The Thali Place, pioneering unlimited Thali experiences that set the standard for authentic Indian dining. This foundation led him through innovative journeys at Food Factory (The Italian Restaurants), where he scaled multi-concept outlets with franchising, Jumboking Foods Pvt. Ltd., as Western India Head for burger QSR dominance as well as expansions via franchising, and now as VP Operations at Vikram Kamats Hospitality Ltd. (Kamats Group).
From high-volume thali services to celebrity-endorsed festive feasts, he has led teams in fast-paced environments, fueling revenue growth via data-driven operations, supply chain optimization, and seamless cross-functional collaboration.
Key achievements include honoring loyal patrons with personalized felicitations, partnering with influencers for cultural events like Onam Sadhyas and Diwali specials, and rolling out processes that boost service quality— all while upholding Kamat’s 100% vegetarian legacy and sustainability commitments.

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