Flipkart to pilot food delivery in Bengaluru via ONDC before own-app launch
Walmart-owned Flipkart plans to enter online food delivery with a Bengaluru pilot next month, initially using ONDC before rolling out its own service. The move puts the marketplace into a market dominated by Zomato and Swiggy, with wider city expansion planned after the test.
What happened
Flipkart plans a Bengaluru pilot for online food delivery in August-September, initially via ONDC before launching its own app. The Walmart-owned company aims
Key facts
- India online food delivery market projected at nearly $25 billion by 2029-30
- India online food delivery market estimated at $9 billion in 2024-25
- Toing expanded to more than 50 cities
Why this matters
Flipkart’s food-delivery entry increases the strategic value of restaurant-tech, logistics and hyperlocal-delivery partnerships as it builds capabilities ahead of a proprietary launch.
What to watch
- A confirmed own-app launch date, brand identity or dedicated food-delivery leadership hire.
- Pilot expansion to multiple Bengaluru zones or additional metros within 3-6 months.
- Disclosure of order volumes, restaurant count, delivery-partner model or service-level targets.
- Food benefits added to Flipkart Plus, Super.money cashback campaigns or bundled memberships.
- ONDC transaction growth attributable to Flipkart, including signs of sustained repeat demand rather than promotion-led spikes.
- Aggressive localized discounting, membership changes or restaurant incentive programs from Zomato and Swiggy.
- Evidence that Flipkart uses quick-commerce fulfillment assets for meal-adjacent categories such as snacks, beverages, groceries or prepared foods.
- Measure Bengaluru pilot metrics: order frequency, on-time delivery, cancellation rates, average delivery distance, repeat rate and contribution margin after incentives.
- Watch whether Flipkart integrates food ordering into its main app, Flipkart Plus, Super.money, Cleartrip or quick-commerce surfaces rather than maintaining a standalone product.
- Track restaurant onboarding mix, including national chains, cloud kitchens and independent restaurants, and whether any supply is exclusive.
- Monitor partnerships or investments involving logistics providers, dark stores, hyperlocal delivery networks and ONDC seller-side applications.
- Expect targeted launch offers tied to Flipkart payment instruments, loyalty rewards or cross-category shopping credits.
- Watch for expansion beyond Bengaluru into cities where Flipkart has stronger logistics density and where ONDC restaurant supply is already mature.