Bike-taxi giant Rapido is gearing up to take on food delivery leaders Zomato and Swiggy by launching its own food delivery service in India—with a twist. The company is promising to offer significantly lower commissions to restaurants, potentially reshaping the market economics.
Partnering With NRAI to Empower Restaurants
Rapido has finalized commercial terms through a strategic partnership with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), which represents over 500,000 restaurants across India.
According to reports:
- Commissions will range from 8% to 15%, depending on the order value.
- A fixed delivery fee of ₹25 will apply for orders below ₹400, and ₹50 for orders above ₹400.
These numbers are notably lower than Swiggy and Zomato, who charge 16–30% commissions—often squeezing margins for small F&B businesses.
Bengaluru Pilot Launch in June–July
A dry run is planned in Bengaluru by late June or early July, with Rapido testing its operational infrastructure and user response before nationwide rollout.
“This will especially help small restaurants,” an executive told The Economic Times, reflecting optimism that Rapido’s model could democratize the space and offer better profit margins for food outlets.
Why This Matters: A Democratized Food Delivery Model
NRAI president Sagar Daryani emphasized that discussions with Rapido are similar to their collaboration with ONDC, a government-backed initiative to offer more economical and democratic solutions for restaurants. The push is to retain customer data, reduce third-party dependency, and ensure sustainable economics.
Rapido’s Expansion: More Than Just Bike Taxis
Rapido currently offers:
- Bike and auto rides
- Parcel delivery
- Cab services (economy and premium)
Now, food delivery joins the list—positioning Rapido as a full-stack urban mobility and logistics platform.
