India, Jan. 30 -- The gastronomic Indian is more outbound now, looking away from home for delectables, and the shift has left eateries in a scramble.

A steep loss of interest in cooking at home, an evolving consumption pattern, and a change in preference for food and beverages have come as a windfall for dine-in and food delivery businesses, dishing out impressive growth for the restaurant industry through the last few years.

The food services sector alone is on course to average an 8.1% growth rate in the next five years, according to a report. Rapid urbanisation, strong economic fundamentals, a growing young population, and an enhanced consumer exposure have spiced up this journey.

Procuring raw materials, however, continues to be a ...