Key points
- Flipkart expanded its internal food delivery trial to over 8,000 employees.
- The service uses Ekart logistics and lists restaurants via ONDC and direct deals.
- The move challenges Zomato and Swiggy in a market growing 18% to 20% annually.
Flipkart is testing a new food delivery service with more than 8,000 employees before launching it to the public. The Walmart-owned Indian e-commerce company aims to enter a market dominated by Zomato and Swiggy. This internal trial represents a significant step toward challenging the existing duopoly in India’s competitive food delivery sector, according to reports from TechCrunch.
How it unfolded
- Flipkart initially tested its food delivery service with a few hundred employees.
- The company expanded the trial to upwards of 8,000 staff members.
- A dedicated fleet of riders through Ekart began fulfilling orders in Bengaluru.
Who is affected
The primary users of this service are Flipkart employees, who access it through a separate tab on the main shopping app. This tab sits alongside the company’s Minutes quick-commerce offering and travel bookings. The service draws on restaurants listed through ONDC, a government-backed network, as well as those signed up directly by Flipkart. Riders wearing "Eat-in by Minutes" branding are currently active on the streets of Bengaluru.
What happens next
Flipkart is preparing for a public launch of its food delivery service. The company is deploying a dedicated fleet of riders through its logistics arm, Ekart, separate from those handling quick-commerce deliveries. This expansion occurs as the broader online food delivery market in India grows by an estimated 18% to 20% per year, according to brokerage firm Bernstein.
The background in plain language
Large technology companies often test new services internally before public release to identify bugs and logistical issues. This approach allows teams to refine user experience and operational workflows without external pressure. Internal trials help organizations validate demand and adjust resources based on real usage data. Such controlled environments enable companies to address potential failures quietly, ensuring a smoother transition when the service becomes available to the general public.
What to do and how to stay safe: Flipkart
- Monitor official company communications for announcements regarding public service launches.
- Review terms of service for any new features added to existing applications.
- Check privacy settings to understand how usage data from new services is collected.
- Verify the legitimacy of new service tabs within trusted applications before use.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security for Small Business: Control Without Cost
General security guidance from the Circuit Observer newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
How many employees are currently using Flipkart's food delivery service?
The trial has expanded to upwards of 8,000 employees, according to people familiar with the matter.
Which logistics arm is handling the food delivery orders?
Flipkart is using its logistics arm, Ekart, with a dedicated fleet of riders separate from quick-commerce.
How does Flipkart source the restaurants for this service?
The service lists restaurants through ONDC, a government-backed network, and those signed up directly.
