June 12, 2025 : Rapido, known for its bike-taxi services, is preparing to enter the food delivery space. The mobility startup has formed a non-equity partnership with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), which represents over 50,000 restaurants across the country.
The launch is expected to begin in select parts of Bengaluru by the end of June or early July. Brokerage firm Bernstein stated that Rapido’s entry into food delivery is unlikely to disrupt the dominance of Zomato and Swiggy. According to Bernstein, Rapido’s foray into this sector does not pose a significant threat to the Zomato-Swiggy duo.
Shares of Eternal, the parent company of Zomato and Swiggy, had dipped when reports emerged about Rapido’s plan to pilot a launch in Bengaluru. Rapido, which has raised nearly $600 million, aims to leverage its 3 million-strong fleet and charge restaurants a lower commission of 8–15%, compared to Zomato and Swiggy’s 18–20%.
Rapido Food Delivery Plans
Rapido already has a rider network capable of handling 3–3.5 million daily rides, offering a strong logistics backbone. The startup plans to utilize idle rider time during meal hours for food delivery, which would require minimal additional investment and potentially increase rider income.
Summary:
Rapido has entered the market to compete with Zomato and Swiggy, but according to brokerage firms, its entry is not expected to have a major impact on the current market leaders.