Quick answer: Flipkart is preparing to launch a food delivery service inside its main shopping app, with riders branded “Eat-in by Minutes”. It is being tested in Bengaluru, a public launch is expected by the end of October 2026, and Flipkart plans to reach five or six cities by the end of the year. Its main weapon is a much lower commission for restaurants: about 10%, versus the 20–25% typically charged by Zomato and Swiggy.
What we know so far
| Where | A separate food tab in the Flipkart app, alongside Flipkart Minutes (quick commerce) |
| Branding | “Eat-in by Minutes” on rider jerseys |
| Testing | Bengaluru; employee trial grew from a few hundred to over 8,000 users |
| Public launch | Expected by end of October 2026 (as told to restaurants) |
| Expansion | 5–6 cities by end of 2026 |
| Restaurant commission | About 10% base |
| Delivery | Ekart riders, separate from Flipkart Minutes riders |
Why restaurants are paying attention
Restaurants have long complained about the cost of selling on delivery apps. Beyond the 20–25% commission, ads and discount programmes on established platforms can push total costs to 40–50% of an order’s value. Flipkart is reportedly aiming to keep the all-in cost closer to 15–16%.
For a restaurant, that difference can decide whether delivery orders make money or lose it, which is why many will at least list on a new platform.
Can Flipkart beat Zomato and Swiggy?
What Flipkart has going for it
- A huge existing user base already using the Flipkart app for shopping.
- Its own logistics network through Ekart.
- Walmart’s deep pockets to fund discounts and growth.
- Lower commissions to win restaurants quickly.
What makes it hard
- Zomato and Swiggy together serve an estimated 85–95 million paying customers a year and have years of restaurant relationships and delivery data.
- Food delivery needs dense rider networks in every neighbourhood, which takes time and money to build.
- Big names have tried and quit before: Amazon launched food delivery in Bengaluru in 2020 and shut it about two years later, Uber sold Uber Eats India to Zomato in 2020, and Google’s Areo didn’t take off.
- Other challengers are already competing on price, such as Rapido’s Ownly, which charges restaurants zero commission.
What it means for you
- Customers: expect launch offers and discounts in Bengaluru first, then other big cities.
- Restaurants: a cheaper sales channel worth testing, especially for smaller outlets squeezed by high commissions.
- The market: more competition usually means better deals and pressure on fees across all apps.
Online delivery is still just over 15% of India’s food-services industry and is growing an estimated 18–20% a year, so there is room for a third player if it can survive the costly early years.
Frequently asked questions
Is Flipkart starting food delivery?
Yes. It is testing a food delivery service in Bengaluru and expects to launch publicly by the end of October 2026.
Which cities will Flipkart food delivery cover?
Bengaluru first, with plans for five or six cities by the end of 2026.
How much commission will Flipkart charge restaurants?
About 10% base commission, according to reports, compared with 20–25% on Zomato and Swiggy.
What is “Eat-in by Minutes”?
The branding seen on riders for Flipkart’s food delivery service, linked to its quick-commerce brand Flipkart Minutes.
Sources: TechCrunch; Inc42; Best Media Info. Launch details are based on reports and may change.
