Ride-hailing company Rapido has stepped into the food delivery business with the launch of a new app called Ownly.
The service has been introduced in Bengaluru, marking Rapido’s entry into India’s highly competitive food delivery market.
Unlike traditional food delivery platforms, Ownly focuses on a restaurant-friendly model.
The company says the platform is designed to solve one of the biggest complaints from restaurants — high commissions charged by existing apps.
The food delivery market in India is currently dominated by Swiggy and Zomato.
Zero Commission Model for Restaurants
The biggest highlight of Ownly is its zero-commission policy.
Most food delivery platforms charge restaurants a commission ranging from 16% to 30% on every order.
However, Ownly does not take a percentage from restaurant sales.
Instead, the model is simple. Customers only pay for the food and a delivery fee that covers the cost of logistics.
This system allows restaurants to keep more of their earnings and avoid increasing menu prices on the app.
Pilot Test Before Full Launch
Before launching across Bengaluru, Rapido tested the service through a pilot program in several popular neighborhoods.
These included areas like Koramangala, HSR Layout, and BTM Layout.
During the pilot phase, the company worked on improving delivery logistics, pricing structure and restaurant partnerships.
After receiving positive feedback from restaurants and customers, Rapido decided to expand the service across the entire city.
How the Pricing System Works
Ownly uses a simple and transparent pricing model.
Restaurants pay a small fixed platform fee instead of a commission on each order.
Customers pay a clear delivery charge that reflects the actual cost of delivery.
Another key feature is that menu prices on the app are kept the same as restaurant prices, preventing inflated prices often seen on other platforms.
This approach aims to remove hidden charges, surge pricing and confusing discount structures.
Using Rapido’s Existing Delivery Network
Rapido already operates a large bike taxi network across Indian cities.
The company plans to use this existing fleet to handle food deliveries.
These riders, known as “Captains,” will manage deliveries for the Ownly platform.
By using its current network, Rapido hopes to reduce delivery costs and maintain fast service.
A New Challenge for Swiggy and Zomato
For years, India’s food delivery industry has mainly been controlled by Swiggy and Zomato.
With the launch of Ownly, Rapido is introducing a different business model focused on restaurant profitability and transparent pricing.
Experts say the success of the platform in Bengaluru will decide whether a zero-commission food delivery model can work at a large scale in India.
If the experiment proves successful, Rapido may expand Ownly to more cities across the country in the coming months.
