Zomato has introduced a new feature, Food Rescue, aimed at reducing food waste and creating added value for users, delivery workers, and restaurant partners. This innovative initiative allows nearby customers to purchase cancelled food orders at a discounted price, a move the company hopes will cut down on unnecessary waste and enhance user engagement.
Four lakh food orders cancelled every Month
Every month, Zomato reports around 400,000 food orders get cancelled while en route to customers. Through Food Rescue, these cancelled orders will appear on the Zomato app for users within a 3-kilometer radius of the delivery worker carrying the order. Users can then claim these orders at a reduced price, with the food still in its original packaging. CEO Deepinder Goyal shared that while Zomato will retain no profits from these orders except for government taxes, the feature could increase app usage and user retention by adding value for customers on the lookout for discounts.
To support delivery workers, Zomato will compensate them for the full delivery journey—from the original pickup to the final drop-off location. Meanwhile, restaurant partners will receive full payment for the initial order as well as a portion of the discounted sale if the order is claimed.
The system also incorporates measures to prevent misuse: the original customer and nearby users won’t have the option to purchase the cancelled order, and customers who have set preferences for vegetarian food won’t see non-veg items. Orders with items sensitive to distance and temperature, like ice creams or smoothies, are excluded from the feature.
Discounts will follow a standard percentage or vary by order
As for restaurant partners, nearly all of Zomato’s affiliated restaurants—99.9%, according to the company—are supportive of the initiative. Restaurants participating in Food Rescue will see these orders reflected in their weekly payout statements, and they can opt out at any time if desired.
While details on discount rates are still emerging, an example shared by Goyal showed a cancelled order valued at Rs 322 being offered at a 50% discount for Rs 161. Zomato has yet to clarify if discounts will follow a standard percentage or vary by order.
Overall, Food Rescue is designed to benefit all parties: reducing waste, providing savings for customers, compensating delivery partners fairly, and supporting restaurants.
