INDIA. More high-profile industry executives have joined the programme for the 2026 Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) + Hospitality Conference & Awards, reinforcing the event’s industry-leading line-up for Bengaluru on 7-8 July.
The latest additions to the programme include Voiceback Analytics Founder Manishi Sanwal, and CEO & Managing Director Shubhra Misra; Accenture Managing Director Nishith Pathak; India Retails & Hospitality CEO Naresh Sharma; Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia Vice President, Customer Development Abhishek Gupta; and Auran Founder & Principal Alex Avery.
Owned and organised by The Moodie Davitt Report since 2011, FAB is hosted this year by Bangalore International Airport Limited.
The only global airport food & beverage and hospitality event will bring together senior executives from airports, food & beverage concessionaires and hospitality service providers, as well as other business partners from around the world.
Four of the speakers will share industry perspective on the ‘Fresh by Tech: Would You Let AI Run Your Kitchen and F&B Operations?’ panel discussion.
Among them is Shubhra Misra, who leads Voiceback Analytics, a Microsoft Solutions Partner for Data & AI focused on travel retail.
The company offers AI-powered analytics for pricing, sales and merchandising, deployed across airports and duty-free operators in India and the Middle East. Built on Azure and a Power BI Showcase Partner, the firm draws on Misra’s quantitative research background at ORG-MARG, Blackstone MR and Tata Global Beverages.
An MBA from IIM Lucknow, she is a frequent voice on AI and data strategy at industry events.
Misra will be joined by fellow Voiceback Analytics leader and Founder Manishi Sanwal.
A travel retail professional and technology enthusiast, Sanwal founded Voiceback Analytics and grew it into a more than 50-member Microsoft-partnered Data & AI company.
His career includes senior leadership roles at LVMH, DFS Group, Flemingo and Adani Airports, where he developed expertise in brand-building, scaling retail operations and driving growth in emerging markets.
A chemical engineer from IIT BHU and MBA from IIM Ahmedabad, he combines operational precision with luxury branding expertise.
Nishith Pathak heads AI for the Accenture Microsoft Business Group, bringing two decades of technology experience to the discussions.
He was India’s first AI MVP and has received the Microsoft AI MVP award eight times – the highest amount globally. He has also served as a Microsoft Regional Director for the past ten years, a distinction reserved for a select group of technology leaders worldwide.
Pathak has authored seven international technical books, including three recent AI titles published by Springer (US), and is a frequent industry speaker known for shaping enterprise-wide AI and innovation strategies for architects and engineering leaders at scale.
A seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience across retail, aviation, consumer products and alcohol, Naresh Sharma is also bringing depth to the conversation on AI and the future of F&B operations.
As CEO of India Retails & Hospitality (IRHPL), he has expanded the company’s retail portfolio with concept brands, such as Artport, Mishthaan, Toycraft, The Olfactive, Artport Accessories, Neo Travel, Lumière and Lamourde Choc.
IRHPL’s F&B division, Radiance Aero Hospitality, pioneered India’s first airport microbreweries, including Susegado at Goa Manohar International and Barley & Grapes at Hyderabad Rajiv Ghandi International. The business also partners with global brands, including KFC, Pizza Hut and Theobroma.
Prior to IRHPL, Sharma held senior roles at Landmark Retail, Reliance Retail, Mumbai Airport, Adani One Super App and United Spirits.
Abhishek Gupta will participate in the ‘Raising the Bar in Indian Airport Food & Beverage’ session.
He leads customer development and commercial strategy across Digital Commerce, Modern Trade, Food Services and Travel, with over 20 years at Coca-Cola India & Southwest Asia.
Gupta is also in charge of the region’s customer-development agenda, driving value growth and bolstering strategic partnerships across digital commerce, modern trade, food services, travel and government institutions.
Gupta has also held roles across channel development, revenue growth management and portfolio innovation at bottling partner Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages.
His earlier career includes experience with Hindustan Lever, Kodak India and Gitanjali Jewels.
Speaking at the ‘Trends, Opportunities and Challenges: Creating a Flightpath for Airport F&B’ session, Alex Avery brings over 20 years of global experience advising airports, investors, operators and brands on commercial performance.
Having worked at over 80 airports in more than 40 markets, he brings deep expertise in space planning, revenue forecasting, customer insight and brand development.
He has led strategic projects across major global airport assets, including Bangalore, Doha, Heathrow, JFK, Toronto Pearson and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
FAB delegates are encouraged to register via the dedicated website.
For general enquiries on FAB, please contact Vincci Chung, Head of Events at Vincci@moodiedavittreport.com. 
