IPO-bound Flipkart is evaluating a food delivery foray via a pilot and possible ONDC integration, intensifying competition with Zomato and Swiggy
India’s online food delivery landscape may soon welcome a formidable new contender. IPO-bound ecommerce giant Flipkart is weighing an entry into the segment, according to media reported.
The Walmart-owned firm is said to be planning a pilot run in Bengaluru between May and June, with a potential wider expansion by late 2026 or early 2027 if the trial proves successful.
According to media reports, Flipkart is exploring two possible approaches: creating its own dedicated food delivery platform or introducing a consumer-facing app through the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce. Both pathways are still being evaluated, and the company has reportedly started recruiting talent for the project.
An entry would put Flipkart in head-to-head competition with established players Zomato and Swiggy, which currently command a large share of India’s online food ordering market.
India’s food delivery industry is valued at roughly USD 9 billion in FY25 and is expected to expand to nearly USD 25 billion by FY30, according to Jefferies group. The market has seen significant consolidation in recent years after several smaller firms exited.
Flipkart has previously shown interest in the space. About two years ago, it examined a possible play via ONDC, similar to earlier explorations by Ola and Paytm, but those discussions did not progress.
The company’s revived interest aligns with shifting consumer preferences, including growing demand for rapid, café-style delivery models that promise shorter fulfilment times. Zomato and Swiggy each posted more than 20 percent year-on-year growth in gross order value during the October–December quarter, indicating strengthening demand.
Flipkart’s review of the food delivery opportunity also comes as it scales up its quick commerce arm, Minutes, which now operates over 800 dark stores. This network could provide logistical leverage if it moves ahead with a food delivery rollout, especially in densely populated cities.
The development surfaces as Flipkart gears up for its stock market debut and seeks to build additional growth drivers beyond its core online retail operations.
