There's a new gourmet grocery store in Mumbai, and here's everything you need to know about it

Long before algorithms dictated appetites and grocery aisles became destinations finding a block of artisanal cheese or a bottle of smallbatch olive oil in India often meant bringing it back from abroad Then came Foodhall Conceived by Avni Biyani in 2011 with their first store in Palladium Lower Parel it transformed grocery shopping into an act of discovery Its shelves introduced urban India to imported ingredients emerging artisanal brands and the idea that food could carry stories of craft provenance and placeFreshness is central to the experience at FoodstoriesIt closed in 2023 as collateral damage from Future Retail its parent companyrsquos larger financial collapse However it didnrsquot take long for Avni and her sister Ashni to reenter the market in 2024 with Foodstories a hybrid of a gourmet grocery cafeacute foodeducation space and lifestyle destination Their focus is on imported and Indian artisanal foods speciality cheeses singleorigin chocolate estate coffees curated produce experiential retail and tastings and storytelling around ingredients and makers in line with what Eataly does in Italy or Whole Foods Market does in the USCheese stationAshni tells us ldquoFoodstories was born from a simple observation the way people consume food has fundamentally changed Postpandemic consumers became more curious informed and intentional Food is no longer just about what we eat itrsquos about discovery culture travel wellness and connection Today people donrsquot just want to buy a product They want to know its story Travel too has become increasingly foodled and many of us want to recreate those experiences at home Food has become a way of expressing identity and aspirationrdquoSpice libraryAshni adds ldquoIndia has an incredible food ecosystem rich in produce craftsmanship and innovation and we wanted to create a space where these stories could be discovered and shared We launched our first store in Delhi in 2024 followed by Hyderabad and Bengaluru Mumbai took time because we wanted to learn evolve and refine the concept What you see here today is a more mature version of Foodstories shaped by everything wersquove learned along the way Mumbai also feels like a homecoming for us and therersquos no better city to build a brand that is so deeply rooted in food culturerdquoLive atta stationAt the Bandra store at Broadway you are welcomed by the aroma of fresh bakes from That Bake Shop led by Chef Dean Rodrigues Therersquos a list of fresh batch with timings mentioned on the board throughout the day You can pick what you like and pair it with beverages from That Bev Bar focused on hydration and caffeination Or just order food from That Grocery Cafeacute which brings ingredient stories from shelf to plateSister Ashni pictured above and Avni Biyani launched Foodstories to build communities around emerging food trends and tell the India storyCuration sits at the heart of everything here ldquoBeyond great products and beautiful packaging wersquore interested in the intention behind a brand why it exists who makes it and the passion that drives it If itrsquos something we would serve at our own family table it deserves a place on our shelves Todayrsquos consumers are also more mindful about what they eat Whether itrsquos plantbased products refined sugarfree alternatives functional foods or fresh minimally processed ingredients people are seeking choices that align with their lifestyles We see freshness as the future and thatrsquos reflected across our cheeses dips baked goods and other inhouse creationsrdquo she addsAshni knows that compared to the Foodhall era the biggest shift is that discovery now happens digitally Consumers expect personalised experiences and onesizefitsall retail no longer works ldquoThatrsquos why wersquore building a seamless physicalanddigital ecosystem combining experiential stores with a technology platform that enables customers to access Foodstories wherever they arerdquo she addsLooking ahead the sisters are focused on three areas deepening their digital capabilities creating new food categories and continuing to build communities around emerging trends from functional wellness and proteinrich foods to premium waters and fresh produce ldquoThe goal is simple to make food discovery more meaningful accessible and enjoyable for allrdquo Ashni signs offWhatrsquos a grocery raveTrending globally a grocery rave is an experiential retail format that combines elements of a food festival tasting event educational workshop and a musicdriven social gathering inside a grocery store or food hall The concept first gained traction in cities like London New York and Berlin where younger consumers began treating supermarkets and speciality food stores as cultural spaces rather than purely transactional ones Think DJs spinning between produce aisles natural wine tastings coffee cuppings maker demonstrations workshops and sampling stations happening simultaneouslyAt Foodstories the first grocery rave happened at the Bengaluru store The DJ was stationed at the cash counter and the focus was on discovery with water tastings apple pairings hot sauce and honey workshops matcha demonstrations and conversations with makers unfolding across the store There was a flavour passport that helped guests move between immersive experiences before converging around the central stage where the evening transitioned into a lively celebration of food culture and community