Zomato has introduced a new feature called Food Rescue, designed to help reduce food wastage. This feature allows customers to buy cancelled orders at discounted prices. According to Zomato, about 4 lakh food orders are cancelled each month. With this new initiative, these orders will be available to nearby users at a lower price, helping both customers and restaurants.
How It Works
When an order is cancelled, it will appear on the Zomato app for users within a 3-kilometer radius of the delivery worker. These orders will be available for a limited time, ensuring the food stays fresh. The new buyer will receive the food in its original packaging at a discounted price.
Zomato’s CEO, Deepinder Goyal, stated that the company will not keep any of the money from these sales, except for the applicable government taxes. The funds will be shared with the original customer (if they paid online) and the restaurant.
What Happens to Delivery Workers?
Delivery partners will be paid for the entire trip, including the initial pick-up and final delivery to the new customer. This ensures that they are compensated fairly, even for orders that were cancelled.
Conditions of the Feature
Some orders are not eligible for this feature. Items like ice creams, shakes, smoothies, and other temperature-sensitive foods will not be available for Food Rescue. Additionally, customers who ordered non-veg items will not see vegetarian options.
The feature is expected to boost app usage, as users will keep an eye out for cancelled orders at discounted rates. It also gives users the chance to try new dishes at lower prices while helping reduce food waste.
Restaurant and Customer Participation
Zomato says that 99.9% of its restaurant partners are eager to join the initiative. However, restaurants can choose to opt-out of the program anytime via the partner app. They will still receive compensation for the cancelled order and a portion of the discounted sale if the order is claimed.
Conclusion
Zomato’s Food Rescue feature provides a creative solution to food waste while offering customers discounts on cancelled orders. It’s a win-win for everyone involved, including delivery partners, restaurants, and customers.
Leave a Reply