Parvej Khan
Introduction
In the last decade, online food delivery has transformed the way people eat and order food. One of the biggest companies driving this transformation in India is Zomato, a leading food-tech platform that connects restaurants, delivery partners, and customers through its mobile app and website.
Founded in 2008, Zomato began as a restaurant discovery platform where people could browse menus and reviews. Over time, it evolved into a complete food delivery ecosystem, offering services such as online ordering, table reservations, restaurant reviews, grocery delivery, and quick commerce. (Wikipedia)
Today, Zomato is one of the largest food delivery companies in India, operating in 800+ cities and serving millions of customers daily. (Wikipedia)
This guide covers Zomato’s history, founders, services, business model, revenue sources, growth strategy, and future plans.
1. What is Zomato?
Zomato is an Indian online food ordering and restaurant discovery platform that allows users to:
- Search restaurants
- Read reviews and ratings
- View menus
- Order food online
- Reserve tables at restaurants
- Discover trending restaurants nearby
The company’s goal is to make food discovery and ordering easy, fast, and accessible for everyone.
Basic Information About Zomato
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Zomato |
| Founded | 10 July 2008 |
| Founders | Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah |
| Headquarters | Gurugram, Haryana, India |
| Industry | Food Delivery & Restaurant Technology |
| Area Served | Mainly India |
| CEO | Deepinder Goyal |
| Services | Food delivery, restaurant discovery, reservations |
Zomato’s mission is to provide better food for more people while supporting restaurants with technology and logistics. (IIDE – The Digital School)
2. History of Zomato
2008 – The Beginning (FoodieBay)
Zomato started in 2008 when Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah, both alumni of IIT Delhi, were working at Bain & Company.
They noticed that employees struggled to find restaurant menus quickly. To solve this problem, they created a website called FoodieBay that uploaded restaurant menus online. (Wikipedia)
The website quickly became popular among office workers and food lovers.
2010 – FoodieBay Becomes Zomato
In 2010, the company rebranded from FoodieBay to Zomato to avoid trademark conflicts with eBay and to create a unique global brand. (Wikipedia)
Soon after, Zomato launched its mobile app, allowing users to search restaurants from their smartphones.
2012–2015 – Global Expansion
Zomato expanded rapidly into international markets including:
- UAE
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Indonesia
- Portugal
- Chile
During this period, the platform became one of the largest restaurant discovery platforms globally.
2015 – Launch of Food Delivery
In 2015, Zomato entered the food delivery market, allowing users to order food directly through the app. (Wikipedia)
Initially, it partnered with logistics companies, but later built its own delivery network.
This move transformed Zomato from a restaurant listing website into a full food delivery company.
2017 – Zomato Gold Membership
In 2017, Zomato launched Zomato Gold, a premium subscription that offered:
- Free dishes
- Discounts at restaurants
- Exclusive dining benefits
This subscription model helped increase customer loyalty.
2020 – Acquisition of Uber Eats India
In January 2020, Zomato acquired Uber Eats India in an all-stock deal. (Wikipedia)
This deal helped Zomato:
- Gain millions of users
- Expand restaurant partnerships
- Increase its market share in India
2021 – Zomato IPO
Zomato became one of the first Indian food-tech startups to go public.
The company was listed on:
- NSE (National Stock Exchange)
- BSE (Bombay Stock Exchange)
The IPO was heavily oversubscribed and marked a major milestone for Indian startups.
3. Zomato Services
Zomato offers multiple services beyond simple food delivery.
1. Food Delivery
This is Zomato’s core service.
Customers can:
- Order food from nearby restaurants
- Track orders live
- Pay online or cash on delivery
Food delivery is available in 800+ Indian cities. (Wikipedia)
2. Restaurant Discovery
Zomato originally became popular for helping users discover restaurants.
Features include:
- Restaurant ratings
- User reviews
- Food photos
- Menu listings
- Location search
This feature helps customers find the best restaurants nearby.
3. Table Reservations
Zomato allows customers to reserve tables at restaurants directly through the app.
Benefits:
- Avoid waiting time
- Exclusive dining deals
- Better restaurant planning
4. Zomato Pro / Membership
Premium members get benefits such as:
- Extra discounts
- Free delivery
- Special restaurant offers
This membership program increases customer retention.
5. Hyperpure (B2B Supply)
Zomato also runs Hyperpure, which supplies restaurants with:
- Fresh vegetables
- Meat
- Dairy products
- Kitchen supplies
This helps restaurants get quality ingredients directly from suppliers.
6. Blinkit (Quick Commerce)
Zomato acquired Blinkit in 2022 to enter the quick commerce market.
Blinkit delivers:
- Groceries
- Household items
- Snacks
- Essentials
within 10–20 minutes.
Quick commerce has become a major growth driver for the company.
4. Zomato Business Model
Zomato earns money through several revenue streams.
1. Commission From Restaurants
Restaurants pay a commission fee on each order placed through Zomato.
This is the company’s largest revenue source.
2. Delivery Charges
Customers pay delivery fees depending on:
- Distance
- Restaurant location
- Order size
3. Advertising Revenue
Restaurants can promote their listings through:
- Sponsored ads
- Top search placement
- Featured restaurant promotions
4. Subscription Programs
Revenue from:
- Zomato Pro membership
- Special offers and deals
5. Hyperpure Supply
Zomato earns money by supplying raw materials to restaurant partners.
5. Zomato’s Growth and Market Position
Zomato has experienced massive growth over the years.
Key Growth Statistics
- Operates in 800+ cities in India (Wikipedia)
- Handles millions of orders daily
- Commands 55–58% market share in food delivery in India (MarkHub24)
- Processes over 1.5 million orders per day (MarkHub24)
The company reported ₹13,545 crore revenue in FY24, showing strong year-on-year growth. (IIDE – The Digital School)
6. Zomato Competitors
The online food delivery market is highly competitive.
Major competitors include:
- Swiggy
- Uber Eats (earlier in India)
- Zepto
- Amazon (food delivery experiments)
Despite competition, Zomato remains a market leader in India.
7. Zomato’s Challenges
Even successful companies face challenges.
1. High Competition
Swiggy and quick-commerce startups create strong competition.
2. Profitability Issues
Food delivery platforms often struggle with thin profit margins.
3. Delivery Logistics
Managing thousands of delivery partners daily is complex.
4. Customer Experience
Maintaining fast delivery and food quality is critical.
8. Zomato’s Future Plans
Zomato is focusing on:
- Quick commerce expansion
- AI-based logistics
- Restaurant supply chains
- Event and entertainment booking
The company recently launched District, a platform for booking movies, dining, and events. (Wikipedia)
9. Interesting Facts About Zomato
- Zomato was originally called FoodieBay.
- The company started from a simple office menu-scanning idea.
- It delivers millions of food orders daily.
- Zomato was among the first Indian unicorn startups to go public.
Conclusion
Zomato has transformed from a simple restaurant listing website into one of the largest food-tech companies in India. Through innovation, technology, and strong logistics networks, the company has built a powerful ecosystem connecting restaurants, delivery partners, and customers.
With services like food delivery, restaurant discovery, quick commerce, and supply chain solutions, Zomato continues to shape the future of food ordering in India.
As digital lifestyles grow and online delivery becomes more common, Zomato is expected to remain a key player in the global food delivery industry.
