Zomato Hikes Platform Fee to ₹12 Ahead of Festive Season

Zomato Hikes Platform Fee to ₹12 Ahead of Festive Season

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on September 4, 2025

Zomato has raised its platform fee on food delivery orders to ₹12 from ₹10, as demand is set to surge during the festive season. The fee is charged per order and does not include goods and services tax (GST).

The hike comes shortly after rival Swiggy raised its platform fee to ₹14 (inclusive of GST) in select pin codes, citing growing order volumes. Both Zomato and Swiggy had introduced the platform fee in 2023 and have steadily increased it over time.

The move reflects growing financial pressures on the two food delivery giants as they continue to invest heavily in quick commerce, even as growth in their core food delivery business has moderated. For the April–June quarter, Zomato’s parent company reported a 16% year-on-year growth in gross order value at ₹10,769 crore, slower than the over 20% growth it had recorded until recent quarters.

Despite a 70% jump in revenue, Zomato posted a sharp 90% decline in consolidated net profit at ₹25 crore compared to ₹253 crore a year earlier. Swiggy, meanwhile, saw its quarterly losses widen to ₹1,197 crore, largely due to investments in its quick commerce vertical Instamart, even as its operating revenue rose 54% to ₹4,961 crore.

Industry experts believe platform fee hikes will continue to support profitability. “The strategy of raising platform fees ahead of the festive season and retaining the higher rate later has been in place since last year, when the fee was increased from ₹6 to ₹10. The platform fee has increased six times since its introduction on Zomato. For every rupee of platform fee added, Zomato’s take rates improve by 22 basis points,” said Karan Taurani, Executive Vice President at Elara Capital.

Meanwhile, new competition may test the duopoly of Zomato and Swiggy. Rapido has recently launched its food delivery service, Ownly, in Bengaluru, positioning itself as a lower-cost alternative with commissions ranging from 8–15% for restaurants, compared to the 16–30% charged by Zomato and Swiggy. Currently, Ownly is operational in Koramangala, HSR Layout, and BTM Layout.

With platform fees rising and competition heating up, India’s food delivery landscape is poised for a dynamic shift in the months ahead.


Lemon Tree Hotels Expands Presence in Bihar with New Property in Motihari

Lemon Tree Hotels Expands Presence in Bihar with New Property in Motihari

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 4, 2025

Lemon Tree Hotels Limited has announced the launch of its latest managed property, Lemon Tree Hotel, Motihari, marking another milestone in the brand’s steady expansion across Eastern India. The opening further strengthens its footprint in Bihar, where the group already operates one property.

Located in the historic city of Motihari in the East Champaran district, the hotel invites guests to experience the region’s rich heritage and cultural legacy. Motihari holds deep historical significance as the birthplace of author George Orwell and the starting point of Mahatma Gandhi’s Champaran Satyagraha, a defining movement in India’s freedom struggle. Its strategic location also makes it a convenient gateway to Nepal and nearby cities such as Patna and Darbhanga, catering to both business and leisure travellers.

The new property features 50 well-appointed rooms and suites across various categories, designed to offer comfort and functionality. In its first phase, 32 rooms have opened along with Citrus Café, the hotel’s signature multi-cuisine restaurant, and a selection of banquet spaces including Tangerine Grand 1, Tangerine Grand 2, and a Boardroom. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s spa, fitness centre, and swimming pool, which complement its blend of leisure and business amenities.

In the second phase, the hotel will unveil the remaining 18 rooms, along with Kebab Theater, a modern Indian specialty restaurant offering authentic kebabs, tikkas, and regional delicacies, and the final banquet venue, Tangerine.

Commenting on the launch, Vishvapreet Singh Cheema, President, Lemon Tree Hotels, said,

“Motihari stands as a city of deep historical and cultural relevance, marking an important chapter in India’s independence movement. With the opening of Lemon Tree Hotel, Motihari, we are pleased to extend our signature comfort and warmth to travellers visiting this iconic destination, blending modern hospitality with the city’s timeless charm.”

With this new addition, Lemon Tree Hotels continues to build on its vision of creating accessible, high-quality hospitality experiences across emerging destinations in India.


Big Bowl Launches a Spooky ‘Smash Your Hunger’ Campaign This Halloween

Big Bowl Launches a Spooky ‘Smash Your Hunger’ Campaign This Halloween

By Hariharan U

Published on November 3, 2025

Adding a playful twist to Halloween, Big Bowl, one of India’s fastest-growing cloud kitchen brands, has launched its latest campaign — ‘Smash Your Hunger with Big Bowl.’ The digital-first initiative turns everyday hunger pangs into spooky, laugh-out-loud moments, just in time for the festive season.

Launched across YouTube, Instagram, and OTT pre-rolls, the campaign features two short horror-comedy films that hilariously portray hunger as a monster everyone loves to defeat. From late-night study marathons to boring work hours, the films tap into everyday situations that Gen Z can instantly relate to blending humour, horror, and hunger with Big Bowl’s signature desi tone.

Big Bowl once again positions itself as the go-to comfort food brand for young, busy Indians. Its catchy tagline, “Smash Your Hunger with Big Bowl,” perfectly sums up its energetic, bold, and relatable appeal.

Taking the theme further, Big Bowl has introduced new space-inspired packaging, featuring astronauts and aliens to depict how hunger exists everywhere, but only one brand can save the day.

Speaking about the campaign, Aayush Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder & Director, Lenexis Foodworks, shared, “Big Bowl continues to stay at the intersection of value, variety, and convenience  three things that define modern food delivery in India. This campaign is not just about food; it’s about owning that hunger moment in a fun and memorable way. As we expand our offerings and move into outdoor catering, our mission remains simple to make great food accessible and satisfying.”

Adding to this, Vikas Iyer, Marketing Head, Lenexis Foodworks, said, “Every Gen Z consumer has a ‘hunger story’', those unexpected moments when hunger hits hard. With ‘Smash Your Hunger,’ we turned hunger into a character that’s funny, scary, and totally relatable. The Halloween timing gave us the perfect chance to mix spooky visuals with digital-first humour that today’s audiences love.”

The campaign extends beyond films with #SmashYourHungerChallenge on social media, inviting fans to share their funniest or scariest hunger moments. Influencer collaborations and new menu additions across Indian and Chinese bowls further build excitement for the festive season.

Currently present across 240+ locations in 40+ cities, Big Bowl continues to grow rapidly under Lenexis Foodworks, which also operates successful QSR brands like Chinese Wok and The Momo Co. The brand is on track to cross ₹150 crore ARR this financial year, solidifying its place among India’s leading delivery-first food companies.


India Creates History with Maiden Women’s World Cup Win

India Creates History with Maiden Women’s World Cup Win

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 3, 2025

India’s long wait for a maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title finally ended as Harmanpreet Kaur and her jubilant teammates lifted the trophy after defeating South Africa in a dramatic final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday.

Their 52-run victory before a packed crowd marked a perfect conclusion to a campaign that had faced turbulent moments after three consecutive league losses, including one against South Africa. But Kaur’s team staged an inspiring comeback, chasing a record target in the semi-final against defending champions Australia before sealing their historic win in the final.

India’s triumph was powered by a stunning performance from opener Shafali Verma, whose whirlwind 87 set the tone for their total of 298-7, though they looked poised for an even bigger score at one stage. Verma’s all-round brilliance shone through as she also picked up two quick wickets, turning the match decisively in India’s favour after South Africa’s captain Laura Wolvaardt’s fine 101 kept her team in the hunt.

Verma’s heroics earned her the Player of the Match award, an achievement made more remarkable considering she joined the squad only before the knockout stage as a late injury replacement.

Deepti Sharma was equally instrumental, smashing a run-a-ball 58 and claiming a stunning 5-39 with the ball. Her consistent performances throughout the tournament, scoring 215 runs and taking 22 wickets, earned her the Player of the Tournament honour.

South Africa, despite Wolvaardt’s valiant century, were bowled out for 246 in the 46th over. Once Wolvaardt was caught in the deep, India took full control to seal a moment that will be remembered for generations.

Smriti Mandhana, India’s leading run-scorer in the tournament, summed up the emotions in the dressing room after years of heartbreak. “It’s still sinking in. I haven’t been emotional on a cricket field before, but this is unreal. To be champions, it’s beyond words,” she said through tears.

As the final wicket fell, India erupted in nationwide celebration. From metropolitan cities to small towns, streets turned into arenas of joy, echoing with fireworks, drumbeats, and chants of victory. Fans waved the tricolour with pride as the country celebrated not just a sporting triumph but the spirit of perseverance and unity that defines Indian cricket.

This victory stands as more than a win, it embodies the love, resilience, and unwavering spirit of India and its people toward the game that unites the nation.

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