No. Inc42 reported that Zomato denied moving to a zero-commission model for restaurants. The speculation grew out of Ownly, Rapido's food delivery arm, which charges restaurants no commission. Citing NDTV Profit, Inc42 said Eternal, Zomato's parent, is weighing changes to its commission model and collecting feedback from restaurants, but had not settled on any plan.
The short answer
Talk spread that Zomato might stop charging restaurants commission altogether. Inc42 looked into where that idea came from, and its reporting is clear on the main point: Zomato denied that it was switching to a zero-commission model.
Where the rumour started: Rapido's Ownly
According to Inc42, Rapido has grown its food delivery business across several Indian cities, adding to the competition Zomato and Swiggy face. Its delivery arm, Ownly, takes no commission from restaurants, and Inc42 describes that as Ownly's main "moat". It is the same tactic Rapido used when it took on the established ride-hailing apps.
So the pressure behind the rumour came from a new competitor, not from anything Zomato said. Ownly's pitch was read as a threat big enough that Zomato and Swiggy might be forced to follow it.
What Eternal has actually said
Inc42 cites an NDTV Profit report that Eternal, Zomato's parent company, is considering changes to its commission model and has started collecting feedback from restaurants across the country. No firm plan had been finalised.
Collecting feedback about possible changes, at a time when a new rival is competing hard for restaurants, is not the same as committing to drop commission altogether. On the reporting available, a Zomato move to zero commission remains speculation about how it might respond to competition, not an announced plan.
What this means for your restaurant
- Do not build your pricing or your delivery budget around Zomato dropping commission; Inc42 reported that Zomato denied it and Eternal had no final plan.
- Ownly's zero-commission model is already running in several cities, so if it operates where you are, assess it as a channel on its own merits.
- Eternal was reported to be gathering feedback from restaurants nationwide, so have your own commission numbers ready if the platform asks for your view.
Sources
This article summarises the reporting and guides listed above; the figures belong to those sources and are attributed in the text. Check anything that affects your business against your own platform agreements, payout statements and advisers.