Festive Cheer Boosts Food Delivery Orders on ETERNAL (Formerly Zomato) and Swiggy Despite Fee Hike

Online food delivery in India is seeing a strong comeback this festive season, even as platform fees and government taxes have gone up. Swiggy, Zomato (now Eternal), and magicpin are witnessing one of their best sales periods in recent years, driven by family gatherings, festive celebrations, and social events.

Surge in Orders During Navratri and Dussehra

Data from food delivery platforms show a sharp rise in festive demand across cities.

During Navratri, magicpin reported nearly a 40% jump in vegetarian and thali orders compared to regular days. Sweet and snack orders on the platform also doubled week-on-week during Dussehra, thanks to festive gifting and office celebrations, led by Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru.

Swiggy too saw massive festive demand. Between September 22 and 30, it delivered over 99,000 sabudana khichdis, 1.03 lakh vrat thalis, and 70,000 sabudana vadas across India. In Kolkata, order volumes rose 11.26% on Ashtami, a key day of Durga Puja, compared to last year.

Post Dussehra, magicpin recorded a 2.5x rise in bulk and party food orders as people hosted get-togethers in housing societies and offices ahead of Diwali. The company expects to double last year’s food delivery numbers. 

Higher Fees and Taxes Fail to Dampen Demand

Food delivery costs have gone up this year. Swiggy and ETERNAL have raised their platform fees to ₹15 and ₹12, respectively, while magicpin now charges ₹10. In addition, the government has introduced an 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on delivery services.

Platforms also apply surge fees during bad weather or peak demand to balance supply and support delivery partners.

Despite these added costs, consumers continue to order online in large numbers, relying on delivery apps not just for festive meals but also for daily convenience.

Read more: Northern Railway Halts Platform Ticket Sales from October 15 to 28.

Conclusion

Even with rising fees and new taxes, India’s festive spirit is keeping food delivery demand high. From vrat thalis during Navratri to party platters for Diwali, consumers are turning to their favorite apps to celebrate without the hassle of cooking. The trend signals a strong festive quarter ahead for food delivery platforms.

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