Leadership series: Sunaina Sethi

We explore the people behind industry leadership through in-depth interviews in our CORE Leadership Series.

We are here talking to Sunaina Sethi, Co-founder and People Director at JKS Resturants.

This conversation opens with an overview of JKS and its global operations, setting the scene for how the group has grown into an internationally recognised hospitality business. 

We explore the inspiration behind premiumising the Indian dining experience, transforming what many grew up with into something elevated and refined, while staying true to its roots. 

The discussion also delves into the dynamics of running the business alongside siblings, each bringing their own “superpowers” to the table, and whether that synergy happened naturally or required adaptation along the way.

In a series that has featured investors focused on scaling single brands, we examine why JKS chose a different path, building a portfolio of distinct concepts rather than replicating one format a hundred times, and the thinking behind that strategy. 

We also touch on the company’s commitment to wellness and employee support, before moving on to international expansion, including openings outside the UK and ambitions for the US market. 

The conversation doesn’t shy away from the tougher moments either, as we reflect on business setbacks and the lessons learned, before concluding with a broader perspective on what the sector and government could do to foster greater entrepreneurship within hospitality.

JKS restaurants:

JKS Restaurants are an award-winning London-based restaurant and hospitality group founded in 2008 by siblings Jyotin, Karam, and Sunaina Sethi. They have gained critical acclaim and industry recognition for their creative, boundary-pushing approach to dining and its eclectic portfolio of concepts spanning Indian, modern British, Persian, and international cuisine. JKS operate dozens of restaurants internationally, including Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand venues such as Gymkhana, Trishna, Kitchen Table, Sabor, Hoppers, and Berenjak, alongside other celebrated concepts like BAO and BiBi. Their portfolio has grown from iconic London sites to restaurants and partnerships across the Middle East and North America, with expansions into New York and Las Vegas underway. The group is known for blending high culinary standards with creativity and hospitality, championing both refined fine dining and dynamic casual concepts, and has won multiple industry awards while establishing a culture focused on innovation, entrepreneurial spirit, and family values.