Gas shortage triggers "kitchen revolution", Indian delivery stocks collectively decline

格隆汇 March 12｜Due to the shortage of cooking gas caused by the Middle East conflict, Indian restaurants are warning of operational disruptions, leading to a sharp decline in the stock prices of Indian food delivery companies. Most of India's natural gas supply comes from the Middle East. Facing a severe natural gas shortage, local restaurants are considering shortening business hours and reducing menu items to cope with the crisis, which puts delivery companies in a predicament of slowing order growth. Analysts, including Abhishek Pathak, wrote in a report: "Some restaurants are reducing their menus, limiting cooking hours, or temporarily closing kitchens, which may restrict the supply of orders on delivery platforms and lead to a temporary slowdown in food delivery order volume in the fourth quarter." Meanwhile, concerns about a long-term shortage of cooking gas have triggered panic buying in India, pushing up the stock prices of induction cooker manufacturers. Last Saturday, India raised the price of the most widely used cooking gas for the first time in nearly a year. The price of the 14.2 kg cylinder used by most middle-class families increased by 7% to 913 rupees (approximately $9.9).