Nestlé India Launches ‘Kaabil’ Culinary Internship for Transgender Community

New Delhi, July 31, 2026: Nestlé India has launched Kaabil, its flagship culinary internship programme aimed at enhancing employability and building industry-relevant skills for members of the transgender community. The initiative is being implemented through Nestlé Professional and driven by BEACON, the company's LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group.

The programme features a 15-day curriculum covering kitchen fundamentals, regional and international cuisines, recipe development, live cooking, professional readiness and career guidance. Training will be delivered in partnership with Sahodari Foundation and TWEET Foundation across regional kitchens in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Participants will receive hands-on training from Nestlé chefs, mentorship and industry exposure in collaboration with the Indian School of Hospitality, with the objective of preparing them for employment opportunities in the food and hospitality sector.

Speaking about the initiative, Saurabh Makhija, Director - Nestlé Professional, Nestlé South Asia, said, “The food service industry thrives on skill and its application, and talent flourishes when given the right opportunity. Through Kaabil, Nestle Professional is combining the expertise of our chefs, providing structured mentorship and real world industry exposure to equip participants with hands on expertise that the hospitality sector values. We hope this initiative inspires a more inclusive and opportunity-driven future for our industry.”

Nitu Bhushan, Director - Human Resources, Nestlé South Asia, said, "Inclusion becomes meaningful when it creates opportunities to learn, grow and thrive. The transgender community is often overlooked with limited access to livelihood opportunities. As the good food, good life company, we hope that an initiative like Kaabil is a step in the right direction to empower the community with industry-relevant skills and exposure. Our aspiration is to create an environment where talent (kaabiliyat) is recognised, nurtured and empowered, irrespective of background or identity."

Kaabil was first introduced as a pilot programme in 2025 in partnership with Sahodari Foundation, during which two transgender women entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu received culinary training and mentorship to strengthen their catering businesses. Building on the pilot's outcomes, the 2026 edition expands the programme to support more participants through structured training and career development opportunities.