Swiggy’s Instant Eats Sprint Forward, Zomato Takes a Timeout

Swiggy’s Instant Eats Sprint Forward, Zomato Takes a Timeout

Swiggy is rapidly scaling up its 10-minute food delivery service, 'Bolt,' now available in over 500 cities across India just seven months after its launch in October 2024. This expansion marks a significant push into instant food delivery, with Bolt orders accounting for about 10% of Swiggy’s total food deliveries. The service targets restaurants within a 2-kilometer radius that serve dishes that need little preparation, allowing delivery in 10 minutes. Swiggy Food Marketplace CEO Rohit Kapoor emphasized that Bolt fills the need of the contemporary consumer for fast, uncompromised meals and views this as the start of their expansion in quick commerce.

Conversely, Zomato recently closed down its equivalent 10-minute food delivery service, 'Zomato Quick,' citing difficulties in profitability and inconsistent customer experience because of existing restaurant density and kitchen infrastructure constraints. Zomato's withdrawal highlights the operational challenges in maintaining ultra-fast food delivery without compromising quality.

Swiggy is also expanding its quick commerce presence through other ventures such as the independent app 'Snacc,' which was launched in Bengaluru and is now being rolled out to Noida and Gurugram, aimed at cutting discovery time and providing snacks and quick bites within 10 minutes. This follows increasing consumer demand for near-instant delivery, a trend observed among competitors such as Zepto Cafe.

Swiggy's fast expansion into more than 500 cities stands in contrast to Zomato's gradual withdrawal, making Swiggy the leader in India's growing 10-minute food delivery space.

Major Points:

Swiggy's 'Bolt' 10-minute delivery now available in 500+ Indian cities.

Bolt represents 10% of Swiggy's food ordering for delivery.

Restaurant focus within 2 km radius that has quick-prep dishes.

Zomato discontinues its 'Zomato Quick' 10-minute delivery due to profitability and experience problems.

Swiggy's standalone app 'Snacc' spreads to Noida and Gurugram, strengthening quick bites delivery.

Increasing consumer demand for super-fast food delivery accelerates competition.

Swiggy is in the lead of the 10-minute delivery race, whereas Zomato rethinks its strategy.

Source: Inc42, Rediff Money, CNBC TV18