Krishna Kanouli’s journey from the quiet town of Bageshwar to leading beverage strategy at a national level is a story of ambition, discipline, and consistent growth. Born and raised in the hills of Uttarakhand, Krishna did not come from a hospitality background, nor did he have industry connections. What he possessed instead was curiosity and a strong desire to create something meaningful for himself.
After completing his schooling in Bageshwar, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts from Uttarakhand Open University. Determined to build a professional career in hospitality, he enrolled at Bar Academy of Doon in Dehradun, earning a Diploma in Bartending in 2018. This decision marked the true beginning of his career in beverage operations.
Learning From the Ground Up
Krishna began his career at the operational level, gaining hands-on experience in fast-paced bar environments. His early roles at Junkyard and Gravity Space Bar shaped his understanding of discipline, speed, and coordination in high-volume settings.
At United Coffee House, Gurgaon, he refined his skills in both craft beverages and specialty coffee service, strengthening his guest engagement abilities and attention to detail.
He later joined SAGA (Cousin of India), a venue recognized for Asia’s tallest bar display. Working in such a premium and high-profile environment deepened his exposure to luxury hospitality standards and complex operations.
At The Westin Gurgaon, particularly at Story & Sunset Story Cocktail Bar, Krishna gained experience in luxury service protocols, cocktail precision, and maintaining strict brand consistency. These formative years were less about titles and more about mastering the craft from the ground up.
Growing Into Leadership
Krishna’s first significant leadership milestone came at Birch by Romeo Lane (Delhi & Goa), where he rose from Bar Executive to Bar Manager. Leading a team of 15–18 bartenders, he implemented structured cocktail development systems and tighter inventory control processes.
This phase cemented his belief that leadership is built on systems, not authority.
Multi-Unit Beverage Strategy
In 2024, Krishna joined Punjabi By Nature as Cluster Beverage Manager. Managing multiple high-volume outlets marked a pivotal stage in his career.
For Krishna, beverage management evolved beyond creativity — it became a blend of innovation and financial strategy.
Corporate Beverage Leadership
Currently, Krishna serves as Corporate Beverage Manager at Fraterniti Foods Pvt Ltd, where he oversees beverage strategy across multiple restaurant brands nationwide.
He approaches beverage operations as a strategic business vertical rather than simply a bar function.
Philosophy and Vision
Krishna Kanouli believes that a cocktail should present premium appeal, a menu should sell strategically, and a bar must operate with discipline. Above all, he believes every beverage program must directly contribute to profitability.
His professional journey — from Bageshwar to corporate beverage leadership — reflects a steady climb built on consistency, measurable performance, and structured systems.
“I started from a small town with no background, no shortcuts, and no connections — only belief and discipline. I learned that success in hospitality, like a great cocktail, is about balance: passion with patience, creativity with control, and ambition with systems. If you stay consistent, respect the process, and focus on growth every single day, no place is too small to start and no vision is too big to achieve.”
And for Krishna, the journey is still evolving.
