Rapido is testing its food delivery app in Bengaluru, targeting India’s food delivery giants with lower prices, faster service, and its massive 10M-strong fleet.
Ride-hailing unicorn Rapido has entered India’s high-stakes food delivery market, quietly rolling out beta tests of its new service, Ownly, in select Bengaluru neighborhoods.
The service is currently live in Koramangala, HSR Layout, and BTM Layout—with expansion tests also running in Byrasandra, Tavarekere, and Hosur Sarjapura Road. It operates under Ctrlx Technologies, a wholly owned Rapido subsidiary led by co-founder Aravind Sanka and VP of Finance Vivek Krishna.
A Price Play in a Crowded Market
Ownly is banking on a fixed-fee-per-order model rather than the commission rates of up to 30% charged by existing food delivery platforms. This will allow the service to price menu items at around 15% less than competitors, with no hidden fees and offline prices highlighted in its Android app.
Delivery fees are tiered: ₹10 for small orders under ₹100 (customers pay ₹20), ₹25 plus GST for orders between ₹100–₹400, and ₹50 for higher-value orders within a 4-km radius.
The platform has already onboarded popular brands such as Wow! Momo, EatFit, Krispy Kreme, and Faasos, with most items priced under ₹150. Curated menus from nearby restaurants are intended to cut delivery times and fuel costs, a strategy Rapido says will balance margins while boosting partner visibility.
Leveraging a Massive Fleet and Insider Insights
Rapido’s edge lies in its strong vehicle network, including 5–6 million two-wheelers used for bike taxis, auto rides, and parcel deliveries. The company has also completed extensive food delivery work for Swiggy in the past, giving it valuable data on peak demand hours and high-performing restaurants.
While Rapido’s agreement with Swiggy permits it to use certain delivery data, it prohibits partnerships with Zomato or other direct competitors.
A Calculated Expansion?
Founded in 2015 as a bike taxi aggregator, Rapido has steadily expanded into auto rickshaws, cabs, parcel services, and third-party logistics. It hit unicorn status in 2024 and has raised $574 million from backers, including Prosus. Today, it operates in over 250 cities and manages around 3.5 million daily rides.
The timing of Ownly’s debut is significant: India’s food delivery market, currently dominated by Zomato and Swiggy, is projected to surpass $102.43 billion by 2030.
Rapido’s foray signals that the battle for India’s kitchens is far from over—and with Ownly’s pricing model and fleet strength, the incumbents may soon feel the heat.
