Nestlé India has launched Kaabil, its flagship culinary internship programme for the transgender community. Enabled by Nestlé Professional and driven by BEACON, the company’s LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, the programme is designed to build industry-relevant culinary skills and enhance employability in the food and hospitality sector.
A 15-day curriculum will cover kitchen fundamentals, regional and international cuisines, recipe development, live cooking, professional readiness and career guidance. Delivered in partnership with Sahodari Foundation & TWEET Foundation across three regional kitchens in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore, participants will receive hands-on training, Nestlé chef mentorship and industry exposure with Indian School of Hospitality to build the skills, confidence and readiness needed for sustainable careers.
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 launched as a pilot in 2025 in partnership with Sahodari Foundation. As part of the pilot, two transwomen entrepreneurs from Tamil Nadu received intensive culinary training and mentorship from Nestlé chefs, helping them strengthen and grow their catering businesses. Building on this success, Kaabil 2026 expands the programme’s reach to empower more individuals through skills and opportunity.