Rapido Food Delivery Is Disrupting the Industry with ‘Ownly’
In a bold new chapter, Rapido Food Delivery has officially entered the crowded food aggregation space in India with the launch of Ownly. But unlike Zomato or Swiggy, Rapido isn’t playing by the old rules. Their secret weapon? A zero-commission model that could shake the foundations of the entire industry.
So, what exactly is Ownly, and why is it generating such a buzz?
Let’s unpack it.
What Is ‘Ownly’ by Rapido?
Ownly is Rapido’s new food delivery platform built on a disruptive idea: zero commission from restaurants.
Instead of taking a cut of every order, as is standard with giants like Swiggy and Zomato (which charge 18-30% commission), Rapido offers a flat subscription model. Restaurants pay a fixed monthly fee to be listed on the platform and fulfill orders—that’s it.
This not only reduces cost burdens on eateries but also makes pricing more transparent for customers.
How Rapido’s Zero-Commission Model Works
Here are the core features of Rapido’s Ownly model:
- ✓ Zero Commission: No per-order charge from restaurants.
- ✓ Flat Delivery Fee: Between ₹10–₹50 plus GST based on order value.
- ✓ No Markups: Food is priced the same as dine-in rates.
- ✓ Transparent Billing: No packaging charges, service fees, or hidden costs.
- ✓ Restaurant Bears Delivery Cost: Within a 4 km radius.
The strategy is simple: empower restaurants, simplify pricing, and leverage an existing logistics network to keep costs down.
The Partnership That Could Change the Game
To accelerate its reach, Rapido has signed a non-exclusive partnership with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), which represents over 50,000 restaurants. This move allows them to build credibility and scale rapidly with established eateries.
The pilot program for Ownly is expected to launch in Bengaluru by late June or early July 2025.
Rapido’s Competitive Advantage: A Ready Rider Network
Here’s where it gets really interesting. Rapido isn’t starting from scratch.
With over 4 million riders and a daily average of 3–3.5 million rides, the company already has the logistics backboneneeded to fulfill food delivery at scale.
By simply assigning delivery tasks to idle or under-utilized riders, Rapido can deliver food without the massive operational overhead its competitors carry.
This gives them:
- Faster expansion.
- Lower delivery costs.
- Increased rider income.
What’s In It for Customers?
From a customer’s perspective, Rapido’s Ownly offers real, tangible perks:
- Lower food prices (same as dine-in).
- No inflated delivery or packaging fees.
- Transparent, fixed delivery charges.
- Support for local restaurants keeping more of their earnings.
Essentially, Ownly is designed to put power back in the hands of customers and restaurants alike.
The Competitive Ripple: How Zomato and Swiggy Might React
The launch of Ownly has already sent ripples through the market:
- Zomato shares dipped by 1.9%
- Swiggy took a 2.6% hit
It’s a clear sign that investors are watching Rapido’s move seriously.
While it’s too early to predict Ownly’s long-term success, one thing is clear: the status quo in food delivery just got disrupted.
Will Ownly Scale Nationwide?
The Bengaluru launch is just the beginning. Rapido plans to monitor metrics like:
- Order volume
- Delivery efficiency
- Restaurant retention
- Customer satisfaction
If successful, Ownly could scale across urban India, forcing the big players to rethink their high-commission strategies.
However, execution is key. Can Rapido maintain quality, speed, and support at scale? That remains to be seen.
Final Thoughts: Is Rapido the UPI Moment of Food Delivery?
Just as UPI transformed payments in India with free, fast transactions, Rapido Food Delivery with Ownly might do the same for food aggregation.
It democratizes access, supports local businesses, and challenges monopolistic pricing.
Whether you’re a restaurateur, investor, or hungry customer, Ownly is a name to watch in 2025.
✅ Key Takeaways:
- Rapido has launched Ownly, a zero-commission food delivery platform.
- Restaurants pay a flat subscription, not per-order fees.
- Customers get menu-parity pricing and fixed delivery charges.
- Rapido leverages its existing 4M+ rider network to scale.
- Early impact: Swiggy & Zomato shares react.
Read more: Rapido enters food aggregation with ‘Ownly’ platform, partners NRAI
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