Rapido, widely known for its bike taxi services, has taken its first steps into the food delivery market with the soft launch of its new platform, Ownly, in select Bengaluru neighbourhoods. The pilot is currently operational in Byrasandra, Tavarekere, Madiwala (BTM Layout), Hosur-Sarjapur Road (HSR Layout), and Koramangala.
What sets Ownly apart from incumbents like Zomato and Swiggy is its zero-commission model-a bold move backed by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI). The association, which represents over 50,000 eateries across the country, has been actively seeking alternatives to platforms that charge high commissions, and sees Ownly as a potential game-changer.
According to Business Standard, Rapido and NRAI have been in talks to establish restaurant-friendly onboarding policies for the platform. Under the proposed structure, restaurants will shoulder the delivery costs for orders within a 4 km radius-potentially improving their margins compared to existing aggregator models.
Delivery fees under the pilot are structured based on order value:
- Orders up to ₹100: Customers pay ₹20, with ₹10 subsidised by the restaurant.
- Orders between ₹101 and ₹400: A flat ₹25 delivery fee (plus GST).
- Orders above ₹400: ₹50 delivery charge.
With its commission-free promise and NRAI’s support, Rapido’s Ownly aims to offer a more sustainable food delivery alternative-potentially disrupting a space long dominated by two players.
