Popular ride-hailing platform Rapido is preparing to enter the food delivery space in Bengaluru with a pilot rollout starting in July, a source confirmed to DH. Unlike existing market leaders Zomato and Swiggy, Rapido plans to offer restaurant partners a low-commission, fixed-fee model.
According to the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Rapido will charge Rs 25 for orders below Rs 400 and Rs 50 for orders above Rs 400. The structure allows commissions to decrease as order value increases—potentially making it more sustainable for smaller restaurants.
Customers will be able to place orders directly through the Rapido app, where participating restaurants will be listed. The company has already finalised partnerships with several restaurants, reportedly at almost half the commission rates charged by Zomato and Swiggy.
This move comes amid growing discontent from restaurant owners regarding high platform fees. Recently, Vandit Mailk, founder of The Garlic Bread, criticised Zomato’s commission structure as “unsustainable.”
Rapido’s logistics are being supported by NRAI, which has been advocating for lower-cost delivery solutions and is exploring ONDC integration to reduce reliance on major platforms.
With players like Blinkit, Zepto Café, and Swiggy’s Bolt entering rapid delivery, Rapido’s entry adds further competition to the evolving food-tech landscape.
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