Zomato Introduces 'Food Rescue' Feature to Combat Food Wastage

New Delhi, May 15, 2024 - Zomato, the popular food delivery platform, has launched a new initiative named 'Food Rescue' to address the significant issue of food wastage due to order cancellations. The announcement was made by Zomato's CEO, Deepinder Goyal, through a social media post on X.

The 'Food Rescue' feature allows users within a 3 km radius of the delivery partner to purchase canceled orders at significantly discounted prices. This move aims to prevent the wastage of approximately 400,000 orders that are canceled monthly, despite Zomato's strict no-refund policy.

"Despite our stringent policies, we see a large number of cancellations, leading to food wastage which concerns us all. With 'Food Rescue', we're taking a step towards sustainability and efficiency," Goyal stated in his post.

Here’s how it works:

• Order Availability: Once an order is canceled, it immediately appears on the Zomato app for nearby customers to claim.
• Time Limit: Potential buyers have just a few minutes to claim the order to ensure the food remains fresh.
• Pricing: The new customer gets the food at a heavily discounted rate, with Zomato not retaining any proceeds except for necessary government taxes.
• Revenue Sharing: The amount paid by the new customer is divided between the original customer (if payment was made online) and the restaurant partner.
• Eligibility: Orders with items sensitive to distance or temperature, like ice creams or smoothies, are not included in this initiative.

Additionally, Zomato ensures that their delivery partners are fairly compensated for the entire trip, including the initial delivery attempt and the subsequent drop-off to the new customer.

This innovative approach not only helps in reducing food waste but also offers an opportunity for customers to enjoy restaurant-quality meals at a fraction of the cost. The 'Food Rescue' feature is currently being scaled across the platform, promising a win-win situation for all stakeholders involved in the food delivery ecosystem.

Zomato's initiative reflects a broader commitment to environmental sustainability and customer service, setting a precedent in the food delivery industry for innovative solutions to common problems.