How big is India's food delivery market?

India's online food delivery market is expected to expand at a high growth rate. The spread of smartphones and the penetration of UPI are driving growth, making it one of the world's largest growth markets.

What are the characteristics of Zomato's and Swiggy's services?

Zomato is the largest player, operating the quick commerce service Blinkit, the B2B ingredient procurement service Hyperpure, and the membership program Zomato Gold. Swiggy operates through innovations such as Instamart and its fast delivery service. Together, the two companies account for most of the market.

How is ONDC different from the major platforms?

ONDC is an open digital commerce platform promoted by the Indian government that gives small and medium-sized restaurants a fair opportunity to enter the market. Its lower commission rates compared with the major platforms are a key feature, making it an attractive option for small Japanese restaurants.

What opportunities does quick commerce bring for Japanese food brands?

India's quick commerce is expanding at a high growth rate, and much of e-grocery ordering now goes through it. Listing packaged foods such as instant ramen or matcha products lets you reach Indian consumers without a physical store.

What matters for attracting more customers through delivery?

High-quality menu photos and managing star ratings directly affect order volume. Listing on both Zomato and Swiggy to maximize coverage is also effective, as is developing a delivery-specific menu with packaging and temperature control suited to delivery. A well-rounded vegetarian menu is also essential.

What platform mix should a Japanese restaurant use when starting out?

Listing on both Zomato and Swiggy to maximize coverage while also combining with the lower-commission ONDC can improve profitability. Using a cloud kitchen is effective if you want to keep initial investment down. A realistic approach is to start from Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, where delivery demand is high, and then expand into Tier 2 cities.

SOJAPAN

Services India Market By industry Case Studies Trade Shows Insights News Company Download Materials

Free Consultation →

Home ／ Insights on entering the Indian market

A Thorough Comparison of India's Food Delivery Apps: Features and How to Use Them

2026.03.24

Article summary

India's online food delivery market is projected to grow from about $55.6 billion in 2025 to $337.2 billion in 2034 (CAGR 22.18%). Zomato is the largest player with about 58% share, followed by Swiggy at about 42%. Swiggy Instamart reached 100 cities in March 2025. ONDC is a government-led open platform with commission rates of 5-10%, far lower than Zomato's and Swiggy's 20-30%.

This article is based on what we could verify As of August 1, 2026 in public records and news reports from India. India revises its tax rules and regulations frequently, and the details here may have changed since. When making an actual business decision, please check the latest information with primary sources such as the ministries responsible and local experts.

India's food delivery market: an overview of rapid growth

India's online food delivery market will reach about $55.6 billion in 2025, with growth to about $337.2 billion projected by 2034 (CAGR 22.18%). Another study forecasts growth from $31.77 billion in 2024 to more than $140 billion by 2030 (CAGR 28.17%). Either way, it is one of the world's leading growth markets.

The spread of smartphones, digital payments the penetration of (UPI), and the busy lifestyles of urban residents are driving this rapid growth.

Zomato: the strengths and characteristics of the market leader

Zomato is the largest player in India's food delivery market, with about 58% share.

Blinkit: its quick commerce subsidiary service, delivering groceries and daily necessities in 10-15 minutes
Hyperpure: a B2B ingredient procurement platform for restaurants
Advertising features: rich options for restaurant promotion and top-placement ads
Zomato Gold: a discount and benefits program for paid members

For a Japanese restaurant Zomato listing on the platform, the quality of menu photos, review management, and optimizing ad placements are the keys to attracting customers.

Swiggy: the challenger's distinctive strategy as it catches up

Swiggy holds about 42% market share (as of Q1 2025) and is working to fight back through service quality and innovation.

Swiggy Instamart: a quick commerce service, which reached 100 cities in March 2025
Swiggy Snacc: a 15-minute food delivery app launched in Bengaluru in January 2025
Swiggy Bolt: a new ultra-fast delivery service pursuing the shortest possible time from order to delivery
Swiggy One: an integrated subscription offering free delivery and other benefits

ONDC: a government-led open network

ONDC (Open Network for Digital Commerce) is an open digital commerce platform promoted by the Indian government. It aims to counter the duopoly of Zomato and Swiggy, and to give small and medium-sized restaurants a fair opportunity to enter the market.

Commission rates for ONDC are around 5-10%, far lower than Zomato's and Swiggy's 20-30%, making it an attractive option for small Japanese restaurants.

The rapid growth of quick commerce and its impact on food businesses

India's quick commerce (Q-commerce) is growing at more than 40% a year, and more than two-thirds of e-grocery orders now go through quick commerce. Blinkit (Zomato), Instamart (Swiggy), Zepto, BigBasket are the main players.

For Japanese food brands, quick commerce is a new sales channel. Packaged food (instant ramen, matcha and similar products) can reach Indian consumers without a physical store, by listing on these platforms.

Frequently asked questions

How big is India's food delivery market?: India's online food delivery market is expected to expand at a high growth rate. The spread of smartphones and the penetration of UPI are driving growth, making it one of the world's largest growth markets.
What are the characteristics of Zomato's and Swiggy's services?: Zomato is the largest player, operating the quick commerce service Blinkit, the B2B ingredient procurement service Hyperpure, and the membership program Zomato Gold. Swiggy operates through innovations such as Instamart and its fast delivery service. Together, the two companies account for most of the market.
How is ONDC different from the major platforms?: ONDC is an open digital commerce platform promoted by the Indian government that gives small and medium-sized restaurants a fair opportunity to enter the market. Its lower commission rates compared with the major platforms are a key feature, making it an attractive option for small Japanese restaurants.
What opportunities does quick commerce bring for Japanese food brands?: India's quick commerce is expanding at a high growth rate, and much of e-grocery ordering now goes through it. Listing packaged foods such as instant ramen or matcha products lets you reach Indian consumers without a physical store.
What matters for attracting more customers through delivery?: High-quality menu photos and managing star ratings directly affect order volume. Listing on both Zomato and Swiggy to maximize coverage is also effective, as is developing a delivery-specific menu with packaging and temperature control suited to delivery. A well-rounded vegetarian menu is also essential.
What platform mix should a Japanese restaurant use when starting out?: Listing on both Zomato and Swiggy to maximize coverage while also combining with the lower-commission ONDC can improve profitability. Using a cloud kitchen is effective if you want to keep initial investment down. A realistic approach is to start from Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, where delivery demand is high, and then expand into Tier 2 cities.

Strategies for Japanese restaurants to make use of food delivery

Here are the key points for Japanese restaurants to succeed in India's delivery market.

Listing on multiple platforms: List on both Zomato and Swiggy to maximize coverage
A delivery-specific menu: Develop a menu with packaging and temperature control suited to delivery
vegetarian A well-rounded menu: Vegetarian dishes can be the mainstay of orders for delivery too
Photo and review strategy: High-quality food photos and managing star ratings directly affect order volume
Making use of cloud kitchens: A strategy to keep initial investment down by entering the market as a delivery-only operation

Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru delivery demand is especially high, and Tier 2 cities expansion into it is also progressing rapidly.