Khao founder Punam Vaja selected for the Maldon Salt 50 for 2026

The Maldon® Salt 50, is a power list and a rundown of the 50 most influential users of the brands iconic, hand-harvested sea salt flakes. For 2025, they excited to bring five NEW categories to the fore in a celebration of all things global, social, sweet, savoury and smoky. Each year they announce a new category of winners for each category, chosen by a panel of industry experts, including individuals from Maldon Salt, The Craft Guild of Chefs, The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts, Great British Chefs and The Staff Canteen.

For 2026, we are so excited to announce that Khao Suppers founder and creative chef, Punam Vaja has been selected for the category The Nomads: the chefs for whom great cooking has never belonged to a single address.

Punam has been selected alongside names like Rachel Khoo, Remi Idoqu & Gennaro Contaldo.

This is a massive honour and we're so pleased and thankful to the judges and the team at Maldon Salt!