Someone Cancelled an Order? Buy It at Half the Cost with Zomato’s ‘Food Rescue’ Initiative
With changing dining habits and the convenience of online food delivery, many people in India enjoy quick access to their favorite meals. However, order cancellations often lead to significant food waste, as these meals go uneaten. To combat this, Zomato, a leading food delivery platform, has introduced a new app feature called ‘Food Rescue,’ which allows users to purchase cancelled orders at discounted prices. This initiative aims to minimize food wastage while benefiting consumers, restaurants, and delivery partners.
Announcing the new feature on X (formerly Twitter), Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal highlighted the issue, noting that “more than 4 lakh perfectly good orders get cancelled on Zomato for various reasons.” He explained that cancelled orders would be visible on the app to users within a 3-kilometer radius of the delivery partner carrying the order, with limited time to claim it. This ensures that the food remains fresh and safe to consume.
Zomato has assured that meals will be delivered in their original packaging to maintain quality and hygiene. Items with a short shelf-life, like ice creams and milkshakes, are excluded from this feature to uphold food safety standards.
Benefits for Consumers and Restaurants
Through the ‘Food Rescue’ feature, customers can purchase untouched meals at reduced prices, making dining more affordable. Restaurants also benefit by receiving a portion of the revenue from resold meals, which helps them recoup potential losses from cancellations. This mutually beneficial strategy converts a wasteful scenario into an opportunity for both consumers and restaurant partners.
Positive Impact on Delivery Partners
Delivery partners, too, stand to gain from this feature. When an order is cancelled, they still receive full payment for their delivery trip. If the order is claimed by a nearby customer, they also earn an additional fee for completing the delivery, easing some of the financial burden caused by cancelled trips.
A Step Towards Responsible Consumption
Food wastage contributes to economic and environmental strain worldwide. Zomato’s ‘Food Rescue’ initiative promotes responsible consumption and helps reduce waste sent to landfills. While Zomato discourages order cancellations, this feature provides a proactive solution that safeguards the interests of consumers, restaurants, and delivery partners alike.
This innovative approach not only underscores Zomato’s leadership in food delivery but also demonstrates how technology can address social issues, paving the way for other companies to adopt similar waste-reduction practices. By balancing profitability with social responsibility, Zomato’s ‘Food Rescue’ sets a promising example of how businesses can foster positive community impact.
