Rapido is all set to take on Zomato and Swiggy by launching its own food delivery service, currently named “Ownly”, in Bengaluru. Promising affordable meals and fair pricing, Rapido aims to disrupt a market dominated by just two players.
Zero Commission, Honest Pricing
Unlike the existing giants, Rapido is pitching a zero-commission model to restaurants. It will not allow separate packaging charges or added platform fees. The final price the customer sees is the same as the offline menu—plus GST. This removes the inflated pricing often seen on other platforms, where markups can go as high as 40 percent.
Delivery Fee and Cost Sharing
Rapido will charge a flat delivery fee of Rs 25 (for orders above Rs 100) and Rs 20 (for orders below Rs 100) for a 4-kilometre radius. These charges will be borne by the restaurant, not the customer. In the pilot phase, customers will only pay for the food and applicable taxes.
Volume Over Value Strategy
To stand out, Rapido is asking restaurant partners to list at least four meals priced at or below Rs 150. This move is aimed at reaching Bharat—the price-conscious population that feels excluded by high online food costs. Rapido hopes affordability will lead to higher user volumes and repeat orders.
Future Revenue Model
While initially focused on zero commissions, Rapido plans to generate revenue via a flat subscription model for restaurants. Advertising and data-sharing for marketing campaigns will also be monetised. The company believes that its network of 30 million monthly active users can be effectively leveraged in the food delivery space.
Restaurants React Positively
Many restaurant owners are optimistic about this new model, especially given the frustrations with high commissions and limited support from existing platforms. Rapido’s scale—operating in 500 cities and handling 4 million rides monthly—gives it a strong foundation.
As Bengaluru becomes the testing ground, all eyes are on whether Rapido can genuinely disrupt the space or if it will eventually adopt the practices it currently challenges.
