Gas shortage triggers "kitchen revolution" in India, delivery stocks collectively decline.

Due to the shortage of cooking gas triggered by the Middle East conflict, Indian restaurants have issued warnings of disruptions in operations, 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 shortage of natural gas, local restaurants are considering reducing operating hours and cutting down on menu items to cope with the crisis, putting delivery companies in a dilemma of slowing order growth. Analysts, including Abhishek Pathak, wrote in a report: "Some restaurants are reducing menus, limiting cooking time, or temporarily closing kitchens, which may restrict the supply of orders for delivery platforms, leading to a temporary slowdown in food delivery orders in the fourth quarter." Meanwhile, concerns about the long-term shortage of cooking gas have triggered panic buying in India, pushing up the stock prices of induction cooker manufacturers. India raised the prices of the most widely used cooking gas last Saturday, marking the first adjustment in nearly a year. The price of a 14.2 kg gas cylinder commonly used by middle-class families increased by 7% to 913 rupees.