Zomato Raises Platform Fee to ₹12 Ahead of Festive Season; Share Price Surges

India’s food delivery space is heating up ahead of the festive rush. Zomato has raised its platform fee to ₹12 per order, excluding GST, marking another step in its strategy to shore up margins, as per news reports. The change comes close on the heels of Swiggy, which recently lifted its charge to ₹14, inclusive of GST, in certain pin codes.

Zomato and Swiggy both first rolled out a per-order platform fee in 2023 and have since steadily increased it. For Zomato, the levy has now multiplied sixfold since its debut, climbing from ₹6 to ₹10 last year and now to ₹12. 

Growth Slowdown and Quick Commerce Bets

Zomato reported a gross order value of ₹10,769 crore in the April–June quarter, up 16% year-on-year, but growth has cooled from the 20% plus rates seen in previous quarters. Rising expenses linked to quick commerce have also dented profitability, with Zomato seeing reduced profit levels and Swiggy reporting higher losses. 

Despite financial pressures, both companies continue to double down on the rapid delivery space as they prepare for long-term market dominance.

Competition From Rapido’s Ownly

The duopoly may soon be challenged as Rapido has launched its own food delivery vertical, branded Ownly. The service is currently live in Bengaluru across Koramangala, HSR and BTM Layout, and is positioning itself as a budget-friendly alternative for restaurants. As per news reports, Ownly’s commissions are set in the 8–15% range, significantly lower than Zomato and Swiggy’s 16–30% brackets, making it an attractive option for eateries.

Read More: Flipkart Buys Majority Stake in Pinkvilla to Attract Gen Z Shoppers!

Eternal Share Price Performance 

As of September 3, 2025, at 1:35 PM, Eternal share price is trading at ₹324.45 per share, reflecting a decline of 0.016% from the previous closing price. Over the past month, the stock has gained by 5.60%.

Conclusion

The latest fee hikes by Zomato and Swiggy underscore the mounting pressure to sustain profitability in food delivery while balancing customer demand. With new entrants like Rapido’s Ownly offering leaner economics for restaurants, competition is set to intensify, even as platform strategies remain focused on fee-led margin expansion during the festive surge.

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