Flipkart Plans Entry Into Food Delivery, Bengaluru Pilot Likely by June

Flipkart, India’s leading e-commerce marketplace, is reportedly preparing to enter the fast-growing online food delivery segment. The move would mark another major expansion beyond e-commerce and quick commerce as the Walmart-owned company evaluates a pilot launch in Bengaluru.

Flipkart Plans Entry Into Online Food Delivery

Flipkart may soon expand beyond e-commerce and quick commerce into online food delivery, according to a report by Source. The Walmart-owned firm is said to be evaluating a pilot launch in Bengaluru between May and June this year.

If the pilot phase performs well, Flipkart could move towards a wider rollout by late 2026 or early next year, signalling a long-term commitment to the highly competitive food delivery space.

Not Flipkart’s First Attempt at Food Delivery

This is not the first time Flipkart has explored the online food delivery category. Around two years ago, the company had evaluated entering the segment through the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

At the time, several companies, including Ola and Paytm, were also exploring similar ONDC-led food delivery initiatives. However, those discussions did not progress beyond early-stage evaluations.

Market Size and Competitive Landscape

India’s Food Delivery Market Growth

India’s online food delivery market is currently valued at about $9 billion and is projected to grow rapidly to nearly $25 billion by FY30, according to estimates by brokerage firm Jefferies.

Dominance of Zomato and Swiggy

The sector is largely dominated by Zomato and Swiggy, which together control the bulk of the market share. However, newer business models are beginning to emerge, challenging the existing duopoly.

Flipkart Evaluating ONDC vs Standalone App

According to the report, Flipkart is assessing two possible approaches:

• Launching a standalone food delivery app, or

• Building a buyer-side service integrated with ONDC

Both options remain under consideration, and the company has reportedly begun hiring talent to support the initiative, indicating that internal planning has moved beyond the concept stage.

Rising Competition and Changing Consumer Trends

Competition in India’s food delivery market has intensified in recent months, especially with the rise of quick, café-style food delivery formats promising ultra-fast deliveries.

Despite a moderation in overall market growth, demand showed signs of improvement during the October–December quarter:

• Zomato’s gross order value rose over 21 per cent year-on-year

• Swiggy reported growth of around 20 per cent

These figures highlight continued consumer demand and improving unit economics for leading platforms.

Quick Commerce Push and IPO Context

Flipkart’s food delivery ambitions come at a time when the company is aggressively expanding its quick commerce operations. Its “Minutes” service currently operates over 800 dark stores, with significant expansion planned in the coming months.

The timing is also notable as Flipkart prepares for a public listing, and strengthening new consumer-facing verticals could help bolster its long-term growth narrative ahead of an IPO.

Rapido’s Ownly and Restaurant-Friendly Models

Zero-Commission Model Gains Attention

Ride-hailing platform Rapido has expanded its Ownly food delivery service across Bengaluru after a six-month pilot. Ownly operates on a zero-commission model, charging restaurants:

• No listing fees

• No onboarding fees

Customers currently pay a flat ₹30 delivery charge per order.

Partnership With NRAI

Developed in collaboration with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Ownly aims to address long-standing restaurant concerns such as:

• High commission fees

• Heavy discounting pressure

• Limited access to customer data

Past Exits Highlight Market Challenges

India’s food delivery sector has seen multiple exits over the years:

• Uber sold Uber Eats to Zomato in 2020

• Ola shut down food ventures including Foodpanda and Ola Dash

• Amazon experimented with food delivery but later scaled back

These exits underline the operational complexity and intense competition in the sector, making Flipkart’s potential entry a closely watched development.