UNOX brings AI-driven combi ovens to the forefront at AAHAR 2026; India emerges as a strategic growth market

Italian commercial oven manufacturer UNOX showcased its latest smart and AI-enabled cooking technologies during its participation at AAHAR 2026, held from 10 to 14 March at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The company used the platform to present its advanced oven portfolio and underline India’s growing importance as a key global market for commercial kitchen equipment.

Vikram Goel, Regional Director – India & South East Asia at UNOX, highlighted the strong response received at the exhibition and shared insights into the company’s technology, market outlook, and expansion plans in India.

Global Oven Specialist Strengthening Its Presence in India

Founded in Italy in 1990, UNOX has evolved into a global specialist in professional oven technologies. According to Mr. Goel, the company operates in more than 130 countries with direct offices in over 42 markets worldwide.

“UNOX is an Italian company that started in 1990, and it has been in the business for nearly 36 years,” he said. “We have a global presence, operating in over 130 countries, with direct offices in more than 42 countries around the world. We have nearly 1,400 people working globally, and about 40 percent of our workforce works outside Italy.”

The company manufactures a wide range of professional ovens, including combi ovens, speed ovens, and convection ovens, while also developing advanced technologies that integrate intelligent cooking capabilities.

“In terms of the products that we offer, I would say that we are an oven-making company. We manufacture all kinds of ovens—whether it is combi ovens, speed ovens, or convection ovens. As a company, we provide complete solutions for ovens,” Mr. Goel explained.

UNOX entered the Indian market around four years ago and has since established a growing local presence. The company currently operates its Indian headquarters and an experience centre in Gurgaon, supported by multiple customer touchpoints across major cities like Mumbai, Goa, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Guwahati, Lucknow, and others.

“In India, we started four years ago from scratch, and today we have a fully developed team of more than 35 people,” he noted. “Beyond our headquarters in Gurgaon, we have established UNOX Lounges for customers in the key cities across India, where our customers can experience and test our technologies firsthand.”

The company operates through a distributor-led model supported by its own service network. “We sell through distributors and do not sell directly into the market. At the same time, we have built our own service network that currently covers 16 cities across India,” Mr. Goel added.

Cloud Kitchens and QSRs Driving Market Growth

Reflecting on industry trends, Mr. Goel observed that the commercial food equipment sector in India has undergone a major transformation over the past decade. “I have been working in this industry for the last 16 years, and I must say that the commercial food equipment industry in India has evolved drastically,” he said.

He attributed this transformation to increasing global exposure among chefs and the rapid growth of the hospitality sector. “Indians are traveling abroad more, chefs are gaining international exposure, and they bring those learnings back to India and try to replicate those experiences here,” he explained.

Mr. Goel believes India has become one of the most promising markets globally for commercial kitchen technology providers. “From a potential perspective, India is among the top five markets in the world for companies like us,” he stated.

Urbanization and demographic shifts are also driving demand for foodservice solutions. “Many people from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities are moving to larger cities, and young professionals are relocating for work. This is significantly increasing demand for food services,” he said.

Within the sector, quick-service restaurants and cloud kitchens are emerging as the fastest-growing segments. “These segments are actually driving the growth. Many customers today want food delivered quickly to their homes while maintaining quality and affordability,” Mr. Goel noted.

Technology And Automation Reshaping Professional Kitchens

According to Mr. Goel, rising operational costs and labor shortages are accelerating the shift towards technology-driven kitchens across India.

“With changing dynamics, space is becoming more expensive, labor costs are rising, and skilled manpower is increasingly difficult to find,” he said. “This is driving the need for solutions that can deliver consistency while optimising resources.”

He explained that modern kitchen technologies help operators optimise resources such as space, energy, and manpower. “Technology helps optimise resources and also allows kitchens to rely less on highly skilled labor,” Goel said.

Automation and artificial intelligence are also playing an increasingly important role in simplifying professional kitchen operations. “Our objective is to make life easier for people working in kitchens. We are not there to replace chefs. Instead, we simplify processes through automation,” he explained.

He added that UNOX is integrating AI into its equipment to assist operators. “Today we are integrating artificial intelligence into our technology, which makes life much easier for the operator running the equipment,” Mr. Goel said.

Through advanced programming, modern ovens can automate cooking parameters that chefs previously had to manage manually. “We have essentially embedded the ‘brain of a chef’ into our machines so they can think and assist the user,” he added.

Showcasing Advanced Oven Technologies

At AAHAR 2026, UNOX presented a wide portfolio of advanced oven solutions designed for professional kitchens and foodservice operators.

Among the key highlights was the SPEED-X™, a hybrid oven that combines a speed oven with a combi oven. The company also showcased its flagship CHEFTOP-X^™ and BAKERTOP-X^™ combi ovens, which incorporate artificial intelligence to enhance cooking performance and consistency.

“These are some of the most advanced ovens in the world and among the first to integrate artificial intelligence as part of their technology,” Mr. Goel said.

The company also displayed its speed oven range, including SPEED.Compact™ ECO and SPEED.Pro^™, which are designed specifically for quick-service restaurant operations. In addition, the newly redesigned BAKERLUX CLASSIC convection oven series was introduced at the exhibition.

Solutions for Every Customer Segment

When asked about the company’s competitive advantage, Mr. Goel highlighted the breadth of UNOX’s product portfolio and its customer-focused approach. “We have solutions for every market segment. There is no customer we approach where we cannot offer a solution to their professional kitchen challenges,” he said.

The company offers products across a wide range of price points, enabling it to cater to different types of customers - from small foodservice operators to large hospitality chains.

Equally important, according to Mr. Goel, is the expertise of the team supporting the technology. “Technology is important, but it is equally important to have the right people behind it. Our team understands customer challenges and offers the right solutions,” he said.

Strong Customer Engagement at AAHAR

Commenting on the exhibition, Mr. Goel described AAHAR as one of the most effective platforms for engaging with the Indian foodservice industry. “The quality of customers and the level of engagement we get at AAHAR are among the best,” he said. “In fact, it often surpasses some larger international exhibitions in terms of meaningful interactions.”

He noted that successful trade shows depend not only on organization but also on the ability to bring together the right audience from across the industry.

Expansion Plans for India

UNOX expects continued growth in the Indian market. The company has recorded strong performance since entering the country and anticipates sustained expansion in the coming years.

“Our business in India has been growing at about 30 percent year-on-year since we started,” Mr. Goel said. “We expect this trend to continue because the market itself is expanding.”

To support this growth, the company is planning to expand its footprint and workforce. In addition to its Gurgaon headquarters, UNOX is considering opening another office in southern India, potentially in Bangalore.

“We will also continue investing in our people. As the business grows, we plan to add more specialists, chefs, and service professionals to our team,” Mr. Goel added.

With growing demand for modern foodservice infrastructure and technology-driven kitchens, UNOX sees India as a long-term strategic market for its advanced oven solutions.