Sameer Malhotra of Cafe Spice was named an EY US Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2026 New York Award winner. Sameer is the Co-Founder and CEO of Cafe Spice and newly launched Cantina Latina. Founded in 1998, Cafe Spice provides chef-crafted, globally inspired prepared meals and food manufacturing solutions for retail, foodservice, and private label partners. The company serves grocery retailers, distributors, and foodservice operators nationwide and has grown into a trusted manufacturer with operations in New York’s Hudson Valley. Under Sameer Malhotra’s leadership, the company has expanded its national presence, diversified its product portfolio, and built strategic partnerships that continue to drive growth and innovation.
"Being named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 New York is both a tremendous honor and a deeply personal milestone. When we started Cafe Spice, our vision was to share the authentic flavors and traditions we grew up with in a way that made them accessible to busy consumers without compromising quality or authenticity. What began as a family restaurant, with my father, has evolved into a national food manufacturing company, but our purpose has remained the same. This recognition is a reflection of the dedication of our team, the loyalty of our customers, and the support of our partners who have believed in our vision from the very beginning. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together and excited for the opportunities that lie ahead," stated Malhotra.
Now in its 41st year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors business leaders for their ingenuity, courage and entrepreneurial spirit. It celebrates original founders who bootstrapped their business from inception or raised outside capital to grow their company, transformational CEOs who infused innovation into an existing organization to catapult its trajectory and multigenerational family business leaders who reimagined a legacy business model to strengthen it for the future.
Regional winners were chosen by an independent panel of past winners, top CEOs and business leaders. Judges assessed candidates on long-term value creation, entrepreneurial spirit, purpose-driven commitment, and significant growth and impact.
As a New York award winner, Sameer will now be considered by the national judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 National Awards, which will be presented in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum®, where high-growth CEOs, Fortune 1000 executives and investors converge to shape the future of business. The National Overall Award winner will move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in May 2027.
The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized the leadership of entrepreneurs such as:
- Jason McGowan, Crumbl Cookies
- Reid Hoffman | Jeff Weiner, LinkedIn Corp.
- Saeju Jeong, Noom
- Allison Ellsworth | Stephen Ellsworth, Poppi
- Jitendra Mohan | Sanjay Gajendra | Casey Morrison, Astera Labs
- Samir Goel and Wemimo Abbey, Esusu
- Jonathan Regev, The Farmer’s Dog
- Shelly Ibach, Sleep Number
- Howard Schultz, Starbucks Coffee Company
- Holly Thaggard | Amanda Baldwin, Supergoop!
- Jodi L. Berg, Vita-Mix Corporation
- Michael Happe, Winnebago Industries
- Daniel Lubetzky, KIND Healthy Snacks
- Shai Eisenman, Bubble Beauty
- Josh Meyerowitz, SupplyHouse
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards include presenting sponsors PNC Bank, Cresa, LLC, Marsh Risk, SAP and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In New York, sponsors also include regional Platinum sponsor Donnelley Financial Solutions (DFIN), regional Gold sponsors ADP and DLA Piper, and regional Silver sponsor Stagedge.
About Entrepreneur Of The Year
Founded in 1986, Entrepreneur Of The Year® has celebrated more than 11,000 ambitious visionaries who are leading successful, dynamic businesses in the US, and it has since expanded to nearly 60 countries and territories globally.
The US program consists of 17 regional programs whose panels of independent judges select the regional award winners every June. Those winners compete for national recognition at the Strategic Growth Forum® in November where national finalists and award winners are announced. The national overall winner represents the US at the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ competition. Visit ey.com/us/eoy.
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EY refers to the global organization and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. Information about how EY collects and uses personal data and a description of the rights individuals have under data protection legislation are available via ey.com/privacy. EY member firms do not practice law, where prohibited by local laws. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.
Pioneering restaurateur Sushil Malhotra and his entrepreneurial son Sameer Malhotra had a vision: Let the bold flavors and tempting aromas of global cuisine inspire authentic, ready-to-heat-and-eat food that is accessible. This commitment to delicious meals is the essence of Cafe Spice, whose story spans decades from the Malhotras' native India to New York City. Culinary Ambassador, Chef Hari Nayak, an integral part of the Cafe Spice team has an adventurous cooking style, inspiring uniquely distinct meals. Their heat-and-eat delicacies set the standard by blending homage to a rich culinary history with new, modern tastes featuring the highest-quality ingredients. Every bite is satisfying, featuring gluten-free, plant-based, and vegetarian options. Meals are easily obtainable across the country because no matter where you are, there's always room for a little adventure. For more information on Cafe Spice and their full line of ethnic cuisines, visit www.cafespice.com
