Rapido, best known for its bike taxi services, is accelerating its entry into India’s competitive food delivery space. The company’s pilot platform, Ownly, launched in select Bengaluru neighbourhoods earlier this year, is now preparing for a wider rollout across the city and other metros. Sources confirm that the nationwide expansion will begin by late November, marking Rapido’s bold attempt to challenge Swiggy and Zomato with a radically different pricing model.
A Transparent and Restaurant-Friendly Approach
According to Rapido, Ownly has been designed around simplicity and fairness. The model eliminates commissions for restaurants, charges no packaging fees to customers, and operates on a transparent flat-rate delivery fee structure. “This ensures affordability for customers while helping restaurants build a more sustainable delivery business,” an Ownly spokesperson stated.
The wider rollout will initially target Bengaluru localities with high student and working populations, including areas like Koramangala, HSR Layout, and BTM Layout. Expansion to other metro cities is already being planned.
How the Ownly Model Works
Unlike traditional delivery platforms that charge restaurants a commission on each order, Rapido’s Ownly uses a three-tier delivery fee model. For orders above ₹400, restaurants pay ₹50 plus 18% GST, totaling ₹59. For mid-range orders between ₹100 and ₹400, restaurants pay ₹25 plus GST, amounting to ₹29.50.
For smaller orders under ₹100, the delivery cost is shared between customers and restaurants. Customers pay ₹23.60 (₹20 plus GST) while restaurants contribute ₹11.80 (₹10 plus GST), giving Rapido a combined delivery revenue of ₹35.40.
The approach allows Ownly to remain price-competitive while promoting sustainable restaurant partnerships. However, restaurant owners have raised concerns about having to absorb packaging costs ranging from ₹5 to ₹10 per order.
Addressing Industry Frictions
Sources close to the company revealed that Rapido is actively working to resolve these concerns. One proposed solution involves the platform covering the packaging costs to reduce the financial burden on restaurants. The move could strengthen Rapido’s relationship with local eateries and help attract more partners in the long run.
Ownly’s simple, commission-free model stands in contrast to the more complex pricing structures of Swiggy and Zomato. With Prosus and Westbridge Capital reportedly investing $350 million in Rapido, the company is now well-positioned to fund this aggressive push into food delivery.
A New Challenger in the Delivery Space
Rapido’s entry into food delivery comes at a crucial time. With Swiggy consolidating and Zomato expanding its Blinkit operations, the market is ripe for innovation. By combining its existing logistics network and localised delivery expertise, Rapido hopes to attract budget-conscious consumers and small restaurants seeking fairer partnerships.
If successful, Ownly could emerge as a disruptive alternative in India’s food delivery ecosystem, redefining the economics of dining logistics.
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