Flipkart gears up to take on Swiggy and Zomato! Here’s how you’ll be able to order food from the comfort of your home...

When it comes to online shopping in India, Flipkart is a name that inevitably comes to mind. A large number of people use this platform to purchase items such as mobile phones, clothing, and household essentials. Now, the company is preparing to offer a new feature to its customers: soon, alongside shopping for goods, users will also be able to order food of their choice—including items like biryani, pizza, and other popular dishes—through Flipkart.

Flipkart is gearing up to enter the online food delivery market, potentially under the name "Eat-in by Minutes." Currently, Swiggy and Zomato hold a strong grip on this sector; Flipkart’s entry could intensify the competition between these players. According to reports, the company has already begun testing this service in Bengaluru and is expected to roll it out to the general public by the end of October, though an official launch date has yet to be announced.

Shopping and food delivery—all in one app
Before the full-scale launch, Flipkart is conducting thorough testing. Initially, the service was made available to a select group of the company's employees; reports indicate that approximately 8,000 staff members are currently using it.

Through this testing phase, the company is evaluating the end-to-end process—from placing an order and making a payment to the final delivery—to ensure a seamless experience. Any technical issues that arise can be addressed before the service is launched on a larger scale.

A key advantage for customers is that they may not need to download a separate app to order food. A dedicated tab for food delivery could be integrated into Flipkart’s existing app, allowing users to handle shopping, grocery purchases, and food orders all in one place.

Restaurants linked to ONDC will also be available.
To succeed in the food delivery space, it is essential to onboard as many restaurants as possible onto the platform. To this end, Flipkart is preparing to include both major brands and local restaurants in its network.

Furthermore, the company is working on onboarding restaurants that are part of the government-backed ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) network. This will provide customers with a wider variety of food options.

Ekart to handle delivery responsibilities.
To ensure food reaches customers on time, Flipkart may leverage its logistics unit, Ekart. The company is assembling a dedicated delivery team for food orders, as the requirements for delivering standard parcels differ from those for delivering hot food in a timely manner.

Will this pose a challenge to Swiggy and Zomato?
Currently, Swiggy and Zomato are the dominant players in the online food delivery market. Customers often have to pay delivery charges and platform fees. With Flipkart’s entry, there is a possibility of new offers and competitive pricing—though this is not guaranteed.

According to reports, following testing in Bengaluru, the company could launch this service in five to six major cities by the end of the year. It remains to be seen how well-received Flipkart’s new initiative will be by customers and whether it can emerge as a strong alternative to Swiggy and Zomato.

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