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In today's world, almost any activity can be carried out online. Even dating. While the idea of finding love by swiping left and right on your smartphone may sound super convenient, it often carries an element of risk. After all, the person on the other end could be anything. In a recent case, a <keyword id="20759324" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bengaluru-woman" source="keywords">Bengaluru woman</keyword> shared a chilling account of how her former <keyword id="23656848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bumble-date" source="keywords">Bumble date</keyword> used his access at a food delivery platform to stalk her after their relationship ended. The disturbing story has drawn attention to the risks posed by data being misused by those with insider access. <h2><keyword id="20066274" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Bumble" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bumble" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bumble">Bumble</keyword> date gone wrong </h2> According to a <keyword id="19951562" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="LinkedIn" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="LinkedIn" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="LinkedIn">LinkedIn</keyword> post by Rupal Madhup, her friend's nightmare began when her relationship with a man, who worked at a food delivery platform, ended. What followed was nothing short of disturbing. The man allegedly flagged her account in the company’s system, giving him access to her real-time delivery locations. He used this information to track her movements, sending her messages like, “Why are you not ordering at your own place at 2 AM? Where are you?” and “Ordering chocolates, are you on your period?” His obsessive behaviour escalated into full-blown digital stalking, where he would question her movements and orders, leaving her shaken. What makes this incident especially alarming is how he used his professional privileges to access her personal data, turning an ordinary breakup into a terrifying experience. In today’s world, where data is valuable, this case underscores how dangerous it can be when such sensitive information falls into the wrong hands. The situation has also prompted discussions around whether digital platforms have robust enough systems to detect and prevent unauthorised access to user data. In an age where every action—from ordering food to taking a ride—leaves a digital footprint, ensuring privacy and security is more crucial than ever. <h2>Tips for staying safe while dating online</h2> As online dating becomes more common, it’s important to take precautions to protect your privacy and personal safety. Here are some tips to keep in mind: 1. Avoid sharing sensitive information like your home address or work location early on. Stick to general locations and public places until you feel comfortable. 2. Many dating apps offer safety features like in-app messaging or the ability to block or report users. Make sure to use these tools if something feels off. 3. Some apps have location-sharing features, which can expose your whereabouts. Keep these settings off unless absolutely necessary, and don’t share your real-time location with someone you’ve just met. 4. If someone is overly interested in where you are at all times or tries to pressure you into sharing personal details, consider it a warning sign and disengage. 5. Before meeting someone in person, try to verify their identity through social media or mutual connections. It’s always a good idea to get a better sense of who they are. 6. Always meet in a public place for the first few dates. This ensures your safety and gives you time to gauge the person before getting more comfortable.

Bumble date turns stalker: Bengaluru woman claims her ex stalked her using location from food delivery app

We’ve all been there: waiting anxiously as your <keyword id="20544300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-delivery-app" source="keywords">food delivery app</keyword> teases you with the promise that your order will arrive "in 20 minutes." You watch in despair as the driver appears to be stuck in some alternate universe, making you wonder if your meal is actually taking a detour through a black hole. Worse yet, the order arrives with half your items missing, or, horror of horrors, your curry has decided to bathe the entire delivery bag. And when you try to reach out for some help? You're met with a <keyword id="19896299" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="chatbot" source="keywords">chatbot</keyword> that’s more interested in looping you through pre-programmed responses than connecting you with a real human. As usual, redditors are here for your rescue. Very recently, a Reddit user took to a Bengaluru sub to share a “hack” to help those who were struggling with food delivery apps and wanted the “premium experience” without paying more for it. As per the redditor, the key is to choose <keyword id="20635241" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="cash-on-delivery" source="keywords">cash on delivery</keyword> while placing your order on <keyword id="19901323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zomato" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zomato" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zomato">Zomato</keyword> or <keyword id="19896956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swiggy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Swiggy" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Swiggy">Swiggy</keyword>. They went on to claim that the app would then prioritise your order over even gold customers. Further, their chatbots are more likely to connect you to a human if the delivery is delayed beyond a point or if there’s any other issue with your order. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="112865820" title="The new &amp;quot;Zomato for Enterprise&amp;quot; will directly bill your company for business-related food orders" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>“The user experience remains exactly the same — once the order is delivered you can pay via any UPI app or wallet or saved card through the app but you never again have to worry about being Zomato’s starving hostage,” u/steve7evans <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/bangalore/s/YokaI9aYfC" id="docs-internal-guid-b04dfa38-7fff-1b3e-b0be-47598d49afdf">wrote</a>. Many users shared their bad experiences with the delivery apps and <keyword id="19925749" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="customer-support" source="keywords">customer support</keyword>. While some agreed that they got the order faster than usual after opting for <keyword id="21690601" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cod" source="keywords">COD</keyword>, some felt that the experience is rather subjective. “I'm always able to connect with an agent. And I am always offered a refund generally when I complain. But I only complain in case of a genuine issue. Maybe because I don't abuse their system?” read one of the comments on the thread. However, this hack isn’t about cheating the system or stiffing hard-working delivery partners. The OP clarifies that this is about ensuring that you get the level of service you deserve, minus the unnecessary hassles. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111758782" title="Zomato and Swiggy increase platform fee by 20% – food deliveries to get costlier" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

The “ultimate Zomato and Swiggy hack” might be opting for COD while placing your order, claim redditors!

We’ve all been there—hungry, scrolling through <keyword id="20299302" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-delivery" source="keywords">food delivery</keyword> apps, trying to satisfy our cravings. And among the many options, one name stands out: <keyword id="19901323" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Zomato" source="keywords">Zomato</keyword>. And huge credit for this goes to those cheeky push notifications. A household name in India and many parts of the world, Zomato has become synonymous with food delivery. But have you ever wondered where the name “Zomato” actually came from and what is the reason behind those push notifications that seem to be flirting with you? <keyword id="19901325" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Deepinder-Goyal" source="keywords">Deepinder Goyal</keyword>, the CEO of the <keyword id="23915877" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-tech-giant" source="keywords">food tech giant</keyword>, answered these questions on the latest episode of The <keyword id="21100902" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Great-Indian-Kapil-Show" source="keywords">Great Indian Kapil Show</keyword> on Netflix. <h2>How was Zomato’s name born</h2>In a conversation with comedian Kapil Sharma, Goyal shared how the name “Zomato” was born out of necessity rather than creativity. The platform’s founders had originally envisioned the name to have something to do with “tomato” — a staple ingredient in many dishes, and a word that’s easily recognisable. But here’s the twist: when they went to register the domain, tomato.com was already taken! Not to be deterred, they simply tweaked the letter and came up with “Zomato” — a name that not only worked but ended up being memorable, too. The “Z” was added for that perfect tech-savvy ring to the name, and the rest, as they say, is history. And while Goyal didn’t spill the final details about whether it’s pronounced “Zomato” or “Zomaato,” he did confirm one thing — it’s all about how you want to say it. Just like a ripe tomato, the name has become part of the cultural fabric. The debate about the exact pronunciation, as seen in hilarious ads with cricketers Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth, only adds to the charm. <h2>About Zomato’s <keyword id="23915874" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="cheeky-notifications" source="keywords">cheeky notifications</keyword></h2>That’s not all. The Zomato CEO also talked about another amusing aspect of the Zomato experience—those cheeky, flirtatious push notifications. We’ve all received a notification that says, “Your food is just 10 minutes away!” But did you ever stop to think about why Zomato’s notifications always seem to have a bit more personality? Well, it turns out the company’s marketing team, full of youthful energy and passion, took Deepinder’s advice to heart. He had asked them to “build a relationship with the customer,” inspired by a book he read—though he himself wasn’t entirely sure what that meant. The results? A fun, almost flirtatious tone that’s become a signature of Zomato’s communication style. “Our marketing team is very young. They don't have any background in marketing. They are passionate people. So, I briefed them one day to make a relationship with the customer. Even I didn't know what it meant. I don't have any marketing background. I read a book and it said to make a relationship with the customer. I told them. They took me seriously,” Goyal said during the show. So, next time you get that slightly cheeky notification from Zomato, you’ll know that it’s not just about food—it’s about building a connection with you.

I asked my young marketing team to 'make a relationship' with customers, they took me seriously: Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal on cheeky notifications

Food and grocery delivery behemoth <keyword id="6358977" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swiggy" source="Orion">Swiggy</keyword> is on a roll, pushing out multiple new services simultaneously, ahead of the festive season, and its much-touted Rs 11,664 crore IPO. Experts anticipate the IPO to hit the bourses in the upcoming months. Earlier last week, the company's shareholders had approved of raising the fresh issue component of the IPO, from Rs 3,750 crore previously to Rs 5,000 crore. This will allow Swiggy to add an extra Rs 1,250 crores to its coffers for future growth. The remaining Rs 6,664 crore will be an OFS (offer for sale), largely paving a way for Swiggy's old investors to exit. In the buildup to its IPO, the delivery giant is dialing up the competitive fever big time with rival <keyword id="19901323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zomato" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zomato" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zomato">Zomato</keyword>, which went public in 2021. Swiggy recently launched <keyword id="23440051" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="XL-Fleet" source="keywords">XL Fleet</keyword> for large-scale <keyword id="20299302" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-delivery" source="keywords">food delivery</keyword> and Bolt, which is an <keyword id="23461052" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AI-powered-logistics" source="keywords">AI-powered logistics</keyword> system. Per some media reports, the company is also launching an invite-only concierge membership program called the "Rare Club", which will have an annual fee of up to Rs 50,000. <h2>Who doesn't love a little pettiness? </h2>But that's not it. In the time being, Swiggy is also aggressively looking for ways to gain maximum public attention, one of which is by sponsoring the fourth season of the popular entrepreneurial reality show <keyword id="11924074" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="shark-tank-india" source="Orion">Shark Tank India</keyword>. But here's the catch-a key condition of this deal is to not bring back Zomato CEO <keyword id="19901325" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="deepinder-goyal" source="keywords">Deepinder Goyal</keyword> as a shark. Media reports suggest that Swiggy is set to close on a massive Rs 40-60 crore sponsorship deal with the show. But in a seemingly low-ball move, Swiggy has blocked the return of Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal as one of the investors on the show. Goyal had made his debut on the third season of the show, and was looking to make a comeback alongside long-time regulars such as Anupam Mittal, Aman Gupta, Namita Thapar and Peyush Bansal. <h2>Bolting ahead with XL</h2>In a move that clearly underlines its ambitious expansion plans, Swiggy also recently announced the launch of its new XL Fleet service, which will look to cater exclusively to bulk orders and large-scale food deliveries. Per Swiggy's co-founder Nandan Reddy, XL is a natural evolution of Swiggy's services. As it is, a recent report by Bain and Company highlighted that India's food services market is set to double to a massive Rs 9 trillion by 2030, surging up significantly from its current standing of Rs 5.5 trillion. Not just that, the customer base is also set to expand from 320-340 million as of 2023 to 430-450 million by the end of the decade. Earlier this year, Zomato had also stepped in this segment by launching its large-order electric fleet, which could serve orders for a gathering of up to 50 people. Alongside this, Swiggy has unveiled Bolt, which is an AI-powered logistics system specifically designed to optimize delivery routes, predict demand patterns, and improve overall operational efficiency. The aim is to bring down on delivery time and costs, giving Swiggy a massive competitive edge in the growing food and quick delivery market. With this feature, Swiggy claims that users can get certain meals such as burgers, <h2>Challenges Await </h2>As of FY24, Swiggy's operating revenue stood at ₹112.5 billion, a 36% jump from the previous year. The company also managed to reduce its net losses by as much as 44% to ₹23.5 billion. While these may come across as positive signs, which are also pushing the company's unlisted shares to new heights, Swiggy significantly lags behind Zomato in both food delivery and quick commerce segment. Consider this. Per Morgan Stanely, as of FY24, Swiggy's GOV (gross order value) at Rs 24,700 crore, was far lower than Zomato's Rs 32,200 crore. Swiggy's GOV and AOV grew at a CAGR of 15.5% and 2.5% respectively, between FY22-24. In contrast, Zomato's GOV and AOV registered a CAGR of 23% and 3.7%, respectively. At 12.7 million, Swiggy's MTU (monthly transacting users) for FY24 were also a far cry behind Zomato's 18.4 million. Even when it comes to average order value (AOV), Swiggy's Instamart lags behind Zomato's Blinkit. This is also why analysts believe that despite Swiggy narrowing the gap on most key metrics like AOV, GOV and more, the company's share will command a lower valuation than that of its rival Zomato.

Ahead of much awaited IPO, what is Swiggy upto? Launching XL Fleet, premium membership and kicking out Zomato CEO

With the rise of <keyword id="3680372" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-delivery-apps" source="Orion">food delivery apps</keyword> like Swiggy and Zomato, India's urban population has embraced the convenience of ordering meals with just a few taps and getting them home-delivered. This technological shift has redefined the relationship between Indians and their restaurant dining habits. But has it also influenced their <keyword id="19956891" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-choices" source="keywords">food choices</keyword> and <keyword id="21015159" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="spending-patterns" source="keywords">spending patterns</keyword>? A new study from the University of South Florida hints at the possibility, highlighting how <keyword id="22470551" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-ordering" source="keywords">digital ordering</keyword> platforms significantly shape <keyword id="20347870" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="consumer-behaviour" source="keywords">consumer behaviour</keyword>, often leading to more indulgent food choices and higher spending. The study—co-authored by Dipayan Biswas, the USF Frank Harvey endowed professor of marketing in the Muma College of Business—examines the cognitive effects of ordering from digital screens compared to traditional methods like printed menus. The findings were published in the Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science. “While digital ordering can enhance convenience and efficiency, many consumers will opt for unhealthier food choices and spend more. Our research highlights the importance of understanding the influence of <keyword id="408193" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="digital-devices" source="Orion">digital devices</keyword> on our decision-making,” Biswas said. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Digital menus and the Google Effect" comment="subhead" text="Digital menus and the Google Effect">Digital menus and the <keyword id="22532162" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-Effect" source="keywords">Google Effect</keyword></cmsannotation> The research included six studies conducted in restaurants and two in a USF lab, where Biswas and his graduate students analysed the impact of digital versus physical menus. Notably, the digital menus included not just mobile apps, but also touchscreen kiosks and tabletop tablets available in some restaurants for self-service. They reviewed over 23,000 orders from various establishments, ranging from independent restaurants to a major global dining chain with 1,000 locations across 23 countries. Food items were categorised as unhealthy, neutral or healthy. Unhealthy items were defined by portion size and type, such as fried foods and desserts, while vegetables and fish were considered healthy. Neutral items included most soups, large salads and steaks under six ounces. ALSO SEE: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/food/webstories/from-bengalurus-meghana-to-delhis-gulati-here-are-indias-best-eateries-as-per-zomato/slidelist/111979326.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">From Bengaluru’s Meghana to Delhi’s Gulati, here are India's best eateries, as per Zomato</a> The study found that 61% of digital orders, including those for delivery, were unhealthy—over 3% higher than orders placed through traditional methods. It also revealed that digital menus have a stronger impact on dinner choices, as consumers are more likely to be tired and reliant on technology later in the day. Consequently, digital ordering has less influence during breakfast and lunch. “Digital ordering modes foster a more automatic decision-making process with lower cognitive involvement. This is because digital tools encourage people to rely less on their cognitive resources and more on automated processes,” Biswas explained. This phenomenon, known as the ‘Google Effect’, implies that the availability of digital tools alters how people store and retrieve information, and even put in less cognitive effort overall. This is evident in tasks such as storing contact numbers instead of remembering them or navigating using GPS. It is this reduced cognitive engagement and more automatic decision-making in digital contexts that can result in more indulgent outcomes, manifesting as unhealthy food orders and higher overall spending. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111782872" title="Will alcohol home delivery be a reality soon? Swiggy, Zomato, and Blinkit smell an opportunity" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Next, Biswas plans to continue investigating how digital versus non-digital ordering affects consumption volume and perceived taste of the ordered items. He also aims to explore how the presence of a human, such as during in-person or phone orders, might influence consumer decisions, as opposed to the perceived anonymity of online environments.

Tech temptations: People go for unhealthier food, spend higher when ordering on digital devices, study suggests

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Research shows that ordering food for delivery has gotten expensive, yet demand remains high.</li><li>Pandemic habits and time-saving needs drive consumers to prioritize convenience.</li></ul>Convenience comes up with a pretty hefty cost these days.There's now a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ordering-food-through-uber-eats-doordash-gotten-wildly-expensive-2024-9">considerable difference in spending</a> between eating out and getting your meal delivered. But demand for food delivery has remained high — as has its price.The personal finance site FinanceBuzz did <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://financebuzz.com/compare-costs-food-delivery-apps">an experiment</a> in September and found that based on the cost to deliver an entrée, a side, and a drink from 10 popular chains on the same day within 3 miles — organizing dinner with an app such as DoorDash, Grubhub, UberEats or Postmates can cost almost double what it would to collect it yourself. This is when factoring in charges for food, fees, taxes, and suggested tips. Business Insider contacted these delivery companies for comment. Both Uber — which owns UberEats and Postmates — and Grubhub pointed out that restaurants also often set the menu prices for delivery, and these may sometimes be higher than when purchasing in-store. Still, diners aren't necessarily being deterred by the much higher prices.Last week, food delivery company DoorDash, reported an 18% rise in orders year over year in its third quarter of 2024. Revenue grew 25% to $2.7 billion in the same period.While Uber doesn't split out the results of its individual delivery companies, it saw gross bookings for its delivery segment grow by 16% year on year in Q3.So, why has delivery gotten this expensive?<h2 id="ef2204e7-2a73-4ce1-b97e-9e59db13fb63">Consumer competition</h2>"As app delivery has become more popular, apps have to pay more to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/drive-for-uber-eats-after-layoff-would-not-recommend-2024-7">drivers</a> to convince them to make deliveries for their team — with many drivers juggling multiple apps throughout their shifts," Anthony Miyazaki, a professor of marketing at Florida International University, told Business Insider."At the same time, demand for delivery pushed consumers to unknowingly compete against each other, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-to-tip-food-delivery-driver-doordash-ubereats-2023-7">a willingness to pay more for delivery and more for tips</a> to get their food delivered on time," he said. A food delivery driver <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-delivery-driver-gets-big-tips-declines-orders-wealthy-areas-2023-4">previously told BI</a> that he decides to accept or pass on a variety of deliveries often based on the highest upfront tips.<div type="image" title="food on a table from doordash delivery service" height="528" width="772" msid="114979379" hostid="261" sizebytes="27174"></div>This led delivery app companies to take a higher cut from restaurants and raise fees for customers, while at the same time, drivers are looking for higher tips, Miyazaki explained, which all results in a much pricier food order.Matched with inflation resulting in the soaring prices of labor and commodities, many chains — including Starbucks, McDonald's, KFC, In-N-Out, and Olive Garden — <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/fast-food-price-rises-tipping-point-value-deals-combos-mcdonalds-2024-8">have increased the cost of menu items</a>.There are a couple of reasons that, despite the hikes, Americans are still choosing the ease of using an app to get dinner.<h2 id="5a6cf862-4bfe-4ddc-b330-71cd4f343f80">Creatures of habit</h2><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/changes-restaurants-pandemic-qr-codes-self-service-kiosks-2024-10">The way we dined changed</a> following the COVID-19 pandemic.But despite lockdowns coming to an end and the country gradually opening back up, people grew accustomed to the trend of ordering food."The pandemic has shifted dining habits, leading more consumers to seek out restaurant-quality meals at home," Alon Chen, CEO of Tastewise, a consumer data platform for food and beverage brands, said."Consumers now consider ordering takeout as a time-saving experience akin to dining out but in the coziness of one's living room," he said.For Miyazaki, because of the rise of streaming, more are comfortable with 'entertaining in' rather than going out for a meal."Also, with more people working from home, they're likely further from lunchtime restaurants and <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/work-from-home-lunch-experts-broken-not-take-breaks-2024-9">don't feel the need to get away from the office anymore for their lunch break</a>," he said.<h2 id="ad899ce2-c371-4933-b511-e71d9133d92b">Time is money</h2>Oliver Wright, a senior managing director and the global lead for consumer goods and services at Accenture, explained that consumers feel "time-poor."This means that although <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/personal-finance/cutting-out-cost-of-convenience-for-a-month-2021-11">more money is spent on ordering food</a> than cooking or eating in a restaurant, the customer is saving time, he told BI.The degree to which <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-doordash-instacart-still-delivering-lots-as-consumers-pull-back-2024-8">convenience and ease are playing on consumers' minds</a> to alleviate time pressure has become especially relevant in recent years, Wright said, to the extent that people are willing to spend more if time is saved."Feeling 'time-poor' is a really dominant attribute," he said."The value of time might be very high," Chris Olivola, an associate professor of marketing at Tepper School of Business, told BI.He said that for the rational consumer, whether because of the amount of money earned per hour, how much importance is given to an activity, or the contribution being made to a company, these food delivery apps are popular because of how they assess their time.It's also about expertise, he said."You might be a good cook, but if you want Thai food and you don't know how to cook Thai, you have to teach yourself, Olivola said, "and that takes time."

Food deliveries keep getting more expensive — but we can't stop ordering       

India’s appetite is increasing day by and day and the <keyword id="20676228" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-services-industry" source="keywords">food services industry</keyword> is on a sizzling plate, projected to grow by 10-12% annually for the next seven years, according to a recent study by <keyword id="19896956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Swiggy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Swiggy" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Swiggy">Swiggy</keyword> and <keyword id="19922375" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bain-Company" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Bain &amp; Company" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Bain &amp; Company">Bain &amp; Company</keyword>. This translates to a potential customer base of 45 crore people by 2030! <keyword id="20039605" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="online-food-delivery" source="keywords">Online food delivery</keyword>, in particular, is expected to grow at an even faster rate with a compound annual growth rate of 18%. Fueled by a growing population, more eating-out occasions, and a wider variety of food options, India's culinary landscape is undergoing a delicious transformation — delicious for the service providers. But what of the consumers? While the study reveals a fascinating diversity in <keyword id="22275323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="how-india-eats" source="Orion">how India eats</keyword>, it also indicates that the top 50, or Tier 1, cities presently account for 70% of food consumption. This wouldn’t be a problem if eating food from outside weren’t basically synonymous with eating unhealthy food. To exacerbate this problem, statistics suggest that this trend will soon seep into the Tier 2 and 3 cities of the country as well. Further, 70% of consumption came from upper-middle to high income households. As per the study, GenZ and other youngsters represent a significant chunk of the food consumption pie – a whopping 40%! <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="109113406" title="Millennials and Gen Z&amp;#39;s trendy new splurge: groceries" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>Growing up in the age of smartphones and social media, Gen Z is comfortable navigating the digital world to discover new restaurants and cuisines. They're not afraid to experiment, venturing beyond traditional family favorites and trying over three different cuisines and six restaurants in a year! While GenZ appreciates good food, they also prioritise value for money. Online food <keyword id="20039606" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="delivery-platforms" source="keywords">delivery platforms</keyword> allow them to compare prices and offerings before placing an order. Furthermore, this generation is expected to dine out more often as their disposable income increases. The rise of online food delivery has revolutionized the way India eats. It has not only extended our eating hours (think late-night cravings!). With changing lifestyles, mid-meal snacking is becoming a popular trend. This opens doors for innovative brunch and evening snack options, requiring restaurants to adapt their opening hours. Delivery platforms have seen an increase in people ordering food items like chicken biryani, fried rice, butter naan, masala dosa and Margherita pizza, among other things, during odd-hours of the day and night. Convenience, taste, and price are now the holy trinity of ordering decisions. Food delivery platforms have intensified competition by making restaurant discovery and comparison a breeze. However, the rise of these food delivery platforms can have a direct impact on the health of Indians, and judicious use of them is advised. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111758782" title="Zomato and Swiggy increase platform fee by 20% – food deliveries to get costlier" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>

Swiggy report says GenZ contributes to 40% of food consumption; highlights recent trend of binge-eating

<keyword id="19896956" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Swiggy" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Swiggy" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Swiggy">Swiggy</keyword> is a popular choice for Indians when it comes to getting food delivered. The company's founder recently revealed that the decade-old startup partners with over 3 lakh <keyword id="19980908" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="restaurants" source="keywords">restaurants</keyword> today. But were things always this bright with the <keyword id="20299302" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="food-delivery" source="keywords">food delivery</keyword> platform? Not really. On its first day, the company had 0 <keyword id="20198062" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="orders" source="keywords">orders</keyword>. <h2>Swiggy's journey through its founder's lens</h2>Founded in 2014, Swiggy started with modest aspirations. The company's co-founder and CEO Sriharsha Majety revealed the startup's journey in a LinkedIn post recently as Swiggy marked its 10th anniversary. Majety reminisced about the humble beginnings when the concept of food delivery was still new in India. “When we launched Swiggy on August 6, 2014, we ended the day with zero orders. The next day, we received our first-ever order, marking the true beginning of our journey,” he wrote, recalling how the company's journey started with just one order. One of the first restaurants to partner with Swiggy was Truffles, a well-known eatery in Bangalore, which began with just two daily orders on the platform. Today, Swiggy’s network has grown exponentially, boasting partnerships with over 300,000 restaurants across the country. Majety also expressed deep gratitude to the early partners who believed in Swiggy’s vision when the concept of on-demand food delivery was still in its infancy. He acknowledged that these early collaborators were more than just business partners; they were integral to Swiggy’s foundation and its evolution into the industry leader it is today. “Their trust and partnership have been invaluable, and they are like core founding team members who helped create food delivery in India as we know it today,” he wrote in the LinkedIn post, highlighting the importance of collaboration in the company’s success. <h2>Swiggy's stock market debut</h2>As Swiggy celebrates this significant milestone, it does so on the cusp of another major event: its anticipated stock market debut. With <keyword id="19901323" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zomato" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zomato" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zomato">Zomato</keyword>, its primary competitor, already listed, Swiggy’s entry into the stock market is eagerly awaited. Speaking at the Moneycontrol Startup Conclave, Majety had reflected on the implications of having a listed competitor. He noted the advantages, such as not needing to explain the fundamentals of the on-demand economy, as well as the challenges, particularly the inevitable comparisons that will arise with each quarterly performance report. As of April 2024, Swiggy has achieved a valuation of USD 12.7 billion, a figure that underscores the company’s impressive growth trajectory over the past decade. Thus, from its beginnings with a single order to becoming a leading player in India’s food delivery market, Swiggy’s journey is an inspiration for all startup founders out there.

Swiggy co-founder reveals the company had 0 orders on day 1, now it has over 3 lakh partners

Think of this. You have ordered food online and have marked it as cash on delivery. The delivery person arrives and the bill amount is Rs 488. You hand over Rs 500 to the delivery person and there’s that commonly heard phrase, “change nahi hai kya.” Most of us have been in situations like these and now that <keyword id="20030235" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="UPI-payments" source="keywords">UPI payments</keyword> are more common than ever, hardly anyone seems to be carrying change. Food delivery giant <keyword id="19901323" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Zomato" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zomato" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zomato">Zomato</keyword> seems to have found a solution to this problem. The company’s CEO <keyword id="19901325" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Deepinder-Goyal" source="keywords">Deepinder Goyal</keyword> announced in a post on X that delivery partners can now add COD orders’ balance amount to a customer’s <keyword id="22710108" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Zomato-Money-account" source="keywords">Zomato Money account</keyword> instantly. That way, nobody has to worry about carrying change. <h2>Zomato CEO has answer to your change problems</h2>In his post on X, Goyal wrote, “For cash on delivery orders, finding exact change can sometimes be inconvenient. Starting today, our customers can pay delivery partners in cash, and ask for the balance amount to be added instantly to their <keyword id="22700688" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zomato-money" source="keywords">Zomato Money</keyword> account. This balance can be used towards future delivery orders or dining out.” Goyal also acknowledged that this idea was inspired by Tata group-owned <keyword id="20041313" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Big-Basket" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Big Basket" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Big Basket">Big Basket</keyword>. “Thank you @bigbasket_com for the inspiration for this solution, and our delivery partners (three of them are working as product managers with us) for insisting that we develop this asap,” he wrote. <h2>Zomato earns crores from platform fee</h2>Zomato was also making headlines earlier this week for raking in a lot of moolah by charging platform fees. The company started charging platform fees in August last year and this has proved to be a successful business move. During its annual report, Zomato revealed that it has collected Rs 83 crore till March from levying platform fee. For the unversed, platform fee is a small additional charge that the company adds to your order. Think of it as a convenience fee for using the app's services, including delivery, customer support, and the seamless experience of browsing through hundreds of restaurant options. Initially, the company used to levy Rs 2 per order as platform fee. But that amount has grown in the last year and today Zomato charges Rs 6 as platform fee in key areas. It can be located when you load the bill details of your order.

Zomato announces new feature for cash on delivery orders and it can help solve a huge problem

If you are living in a metropolitan area in India, chances are you regularly order food from <keyword id="19901323" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Zomato" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Zomato" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Zomato">Zomato</keyword>. The company launched in India in 2008 and was earlier just a food delivery service. Overtime, it evolved into a food discovery platform as people can rate restaurants, reserve tables, leave reviews and more. Now, we all know that when we order food via Zomato we end up paying slightly more. There are various charges that the company levies on users including handling charges and delivery fee. In August last year, Zomato started charging a <keyword id="20299300" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="platform-fee" source="keywords">platform fee</keyword> from users. And this has proved to be a successful business move for the platform as during its annual report, the company revealed that it has collected Rs 83 crore till March from levying platform fee. So what exactly is this platform fee that has raked in moolah from the company? Moreover, how does it benefit Zomato and what effect does it have on the end consumer? Read on to find out. <h2>What is Zomato’s platform fee?</h2>Zomato's platform fee is a small additional charge that the company adds to your order. Think of it as a convenience fee for using the app's services, including delivery, customer support, and the seamless experience of browsing through hundreds of restaurant options. Initially, the company used to levy Rs 2 per order as platform fee. But that amount has grown in the last one year and today Zomato charges Rs 6 as platform fee in key areas. It can be located when you load the bill details of your order. <div type="image" title="Zomato levies platform fee" msid="112313825" hostid="261" sizebytes="48995" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Zomato levies platform fee&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> <h2>How it impacts Zomato</h2>The Platform fee might seem like a minor addition to your bill, but when multiplied by millions of orders, it becomes a significant source of revenue for Zomato. Since every order placed incurs this charge, it increases the company’s "take rates" — the profit made per order. This fee serves as a crucial, controllable revenue stream in the supply chain, providing a steady income source that companies can directly manage. Alongside advertising fees and restaurant commissions, the platform fee has become a significant revenue generator for Zomato. In other words, levying a platform fee is basically a clever way for Zomato to boost its revenue without significantly increasing the prices of individual menu items. During its annual report, Zomato identified the platform fee as one of the three main factors driving Zomato's Adjusted Revenue, which saw a 27 percent year-on-year growth, reaching Rs 7,792 crore in FY24. "Adjusted Revenue as a percentage of GOV (gross order value) continued to rise, primarily due to higher restaurant commission take-rates, improved ad monetization, and the introduction of the platform fee from Q2FY24 onwards," the report highlighted. The report also added that all of the above mentioned factors compensated for the reduction in customer delivery charges per order due to the free delivery benefit available on Gold orders. <h2>How are you affected by Zomato’s platform fee?</h2>Zomato’s report also revealed that most late-night orders in the last fiscal year came from Delhi NCR, while Bengaluru led in the number of breakfast orders. Now the question that arises is, how exactly is the end consumer being affected by the platform fee? One of the obvious answers is that it makes your order a bit more expensive. Especially if you order from the food delivery giant on a daily basis. You might not even notice the addition of Rs 6 in your final bill but if you order food from Zomato everyday and start calculating, it will come up to be a noticeable amount. Say you have ordered food from Zomato everyday since the last three months. In this case, you would have ended up paying around Rs 540 as platform fee. Moreover, platform fee tends to be higher during peak hours or weather conditions. Thus, the order ends up being even costlier. Just last month, CEO of Bengaluru-based company <keyword id="22689022" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="capitalmind-deepak-shenoy" source="keywords">Capitalmind Deepak Shenoy</keyword>, was making headlines for saying that he has reduced ordering food from <keyword id="19896956" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="swiggy" source="keywords">Swiggy</keyword> and Zomato because of higher platform fees. “Massively reduced ordering from Swiggy/Zomato, down to just once maybe on a weekend, like today and noticed their 'platform' charge is now ₹6. Happy that I weaned myself off the daily ordering. They also take 30 percent from restaurants, btw,” he wrote in a post on X (earlier called Twitter).

Zomato earned Rs 83 crore from platform fee: What it is, how it benefits the company and how it affects you

<ul class="summary-list"><li>One-fifth of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/golden-age-gig-work-instacart-doordash-delivery-jobs-over-2023-12">food delivery</a> accounts have been targets of hacking attempts, Sift found.</li><li>The companies behind the apps use two-factor authentication less often than in other industries.</li></ul>Your <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-delivery-driver-gets-big-tips-declines-orders-wealthy-areas-2023-4">DoorDash</a> or other food delivery apps are a prime target for hackers.About 20% of accounts for ordering and delivering restaurant food have been subject to an attempted account takeover by a hacker, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://sift.com/blog/expanding-fibr-with-account-takeover-and-two-factor-authentication-trend-data">Sift</a>, a company that detects online fraud. That's much higher than the 2.5% average across all the industries Sift tracks, from cryptocurrency to transportation.One reason: food delivery apps use two-factor authentication — like those codes texted to you before you can log in — less often than other kinds, Sift found. Just 3.5% of log-ins on food delivery apps asked for that kind of verification, making it easier for hackers to get in. Across all the apps that Sift tracks, that number was 10%."I know I have a few apps on my phone for food delivery, and none of them forced me to do any kind of step-up authentication," Brittany Allen, trust &amp; safety architect at Sift, told Business Insider."For your bank, you're happy to have to show your fingerprint, get a text, enter a code, and go through a couple of steps," she said. Food delivery companies don't always ask the same when their customers log in, Allen added, though the accounts often contain valuable things for hackers, such as account balances and loyalty points.Hackers also target food delivery accounts since many customers only use them periodically — meaning they're less likely to notice if someone takes control. "If you're not a power user, that's something that is even more attractive" to hackers, Allen said.Once they have control, hackers can use the accounts to place orders or mine them for loyalty points. They can also sell them. Allen showed BI several channels on messaging app Telegram that purported to sell accounts for DoorDash, Instacart, and other delivery services.Accounts are also advertised for sale on social media platforms like <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-spark-delivery-accounts-go-for-hundreds-dollars-social-media-2023-9">Meta's Facebook and Instagram</a>, though some of the posts are running a different kind of scam: Taking buyers' money, then not sending anything in return, BI reported previously.Increasingly, fraudsters don't need deep knowledge of technology or fancy equipment to steal accounts, Allen said. Many use a regular computer or smartphone. "You don't need a specialized tool or any kind of high-powered configuration," she said.Hackers are nothing new for many of the delivery apps. Some <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/instacart-shoppers-customers-getting-hit-by-gift-card-scam-2024-5">hackers have been able to gain entry to some Instacart customers' accounts</a>, for example, and then use them to obtain gift card codes without paying for them.Gig workers' accounts are also a target. Some drivers for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hackers-targeting-walmart-spark-drivers-accounts-shopping-delivery-service-2024-2">Walmart's Spark delivery service have had their accounts hacked</a>. The accounts have then been used by others to shop and deliver orders through the service, drivers have told BI.The apps have taken some steps to improve security. Last fall, for instance, Walmart started requiring <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-id-tool-spark-drivers-shutting-out-legitimate-workers-app-2024-2">Spark drivers to periodically verify their identity with a selfie</a> — though the feature has malfunctioned for some legitimate drivers, kicking them off of the app.Do you work for DoorDash, Instacart, Uber Eats, or another gig delivery service and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com

Hackers really, really like trying to take over your food delivery apps

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A scam is leaving Instacart shoppers or customers on the hook for gift cards they never ordered.</li><li>The scammers ask Instacart shoppers to replace items with gift cards and then send the card's code.</li></ul>Some Instacart shoppers are the targets of a scam centered on gift cards.It works like this: A scammer acting as a legitimate customer will place an order with a few small items, like a beverage or a piece of fruit. After an Instacart shopper accepts the order, the customer messages the shopper and asks if they can add one or more gift cards — often worth $100 or more — to the order.The customer will then ask the shopper to send them the card's code, which gives them access to the money before the shopper has even checked out and left the store.That "customer" can then say they didn't order the gift card — which they've already spent the money from. That could theoretically mean Instacart or the delivery worker has to cover the cost of the card. The delivery worker is also left at risk of having their account deactivated by Instacart for violating company policy."I need a 150$ Vanilla gift card," one scammer told an Instacart shopper, according to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reddit.com/r/InstacartShoppers/comments/16o0c8b/got_my_first_scam_order_today/#lightbox">a post on Reddit</a> from last September, referencing a type of Visa prepaid card. "Its for my dads birthday but i couldn't go out." The request came with an offer for a $100 tip, according to the post."Got my first scam order today," the poster wrote, adding in the comments that they contacted support to intervene in the order once the gift card request came through.The scam doesn't just affect the workers shopping for Instacart. It can also impact legitimate customers. One TikTok user, itsjwest, said in a video posted in August that someone hacked into his Instacart account to order a Slim Jim beef stick and a $100 Xbox gift card from a Walgreens store.The two items showed up in a bag on his doorstep — but the driver had scratched off the code on the gift card and sent it to the hacker in exchange for a tip. "He tells me that he was having a conversation with the guy, and he tells me that he was tipping him $58 to go ahead and scratch off the code and send to him before actually making the delivery," itsjwest says in the video. "How is that not a red flag to anybody?"Heidi Bleau, an Instacart shopper in Massachusetts who works in marketing but shops through the app to make extra money for her son's college expenses, told Business Insider that she got a similar request after agreeing to shop and deliver an order from a Walgreens last fall."Within 30 seconds, I got a message about buying the Vanilla Visa gift card," she said. "I tried calling the customer directly, and I got a message that they prefer not to be contacted." Bleau said she just closed the app and didn't finish the order after she couldn't talk to Instacart support over the phone about the scam.Her son, who also works for Instacart, has also had at least four similar requests over the past several months, she said. It's unclear whether the requests were from fraudulent customers or scammers who had hacked legitimate accounts.One of the orders initially included a bottle of cologne, which the customer then requested be replaced with a $150 gift card. Instacart policy does allow shoppers to replace items as a "special request" for customers and override the system by adding a custom price for the item. The feature is designed to accommodate items for sale in a store but which don't show up for customers in Instacart's catalog.Instacart forbids shoppers from adding gift cards to orders, a screenshot of the company policy seen by BI indicates."It's impacting consumers who have to deal with the fraudulent charges on their credit card, but even more, Instacart has to be seeing massive chargebacks, yet I don't see they are doing anything about this," the shopper told BI."Customers are not able to order gift cards through the Instacart platform or place a special request for a gift card via chat," an Instacart spokesperson told BI.Instacart also tells shoppers not to purchase gift cards for customers, the spokesperson added.Do you deliver food, groceries, or other items as a gig worker and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:abitter@businessinsider.com">abitter@businessinsider.com</a>

You Searched For "food delivery apps india" and got 12 results

Bumble date turns stalker: Bengaluru woman claims her ex stalked her using location from food delivery app

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The “ultimate Zomato and Swiggy hack” might be opting for COD while placing your order, claim redditors!

BI India Bureau

I asked my young marketing team to 'make a relationship' with customers, they took me seriously: Zomato’s Deepinder Goyal on cheeky notifications

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Ahead of much awaited IPO, what is Swiggy upto? Launching XL Fleet, premium membership and kicking out Zomato CEO

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Tech temptations: People go for unhealthier food, spend higher when ordering on digital devices, study suggests

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Food deliveries keep getting more expensive — but we can't stop ordering

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Swiggy report says GenZ contributes to 40% of food consumption; highlights recent trend of binge-eating

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Swiggy co-founder reveals the company had 0 orders on day 1, now it has over 3 lakh partners

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Zomato announces new feature for cash on delivery orders and it can help solve a huge problem

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Zomato earned Rs 83 crore from platform fee: What it is, how it benefits the company and how it affects you

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Hackers really, really like trying to take over your food delivery apps

Alex Bitter

Scammers are using delivery apps like Instacart to swindle customers and delivery workers out of money

Alex Bitter

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