Food-delivery company Zomato has implemented a significant Zomato platform fee hike, increasing the per-order fee from ₹12.50 to ₹14.90, marking a rise of ₹2.40 or 19 per cent. This revised fee takes effect today, March 20, and comes amid geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have affected global LPG and crude oil supplies.
The Zomato platform fee hike adds to existing costs, including the restaurant’s food price, delivery charges, and GST, directly impacting the wallets of online food-ordering users. Customers should prepare for slightly higher bills when placing orders on the platform in the coming weeks.
Despite the increased fee, Zomato’s food delivery business has been regaining growth momentum. In the October–December quarter, the company reported a 16.6 per cent year-on-year increase in net order value (NOV), reaching ₹9,846 crore. This translated into a 21.3 per cent growth in gross order value (GOV), an acceleration from the 13.8 per cent growth seen in the previous quarter.
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Zomato Platform Fee Hike Comes Amid Rising Costs and Growing User Base
Zomato’s average monthly transacting users also grew 21 per cent year-on-year, reaching 24.9 million during the December quarter. Growth has been particularly strong in smaller cities, driven by affordability-focused offerings that appeal to tier-II and III markets.
Adding to its digital expansion, Eternal, Zomato’s parent company, recently partnered with OpenAI to enhance artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities across its platforms. This collaboration includes AI deployments for Zomato, Blinkit, District, Hyperpure, and Eternal’s Feeding India initiative, highlighting the increasing role of AI in India’s digital commerce sector.
Industry experts suggest that while the Zomato platform fee hike may initially affect consumer sentiment, the company’s strong growth metrics and expanding AI capabilities could help maintain momentum in India’s competitive food-delivery market.