New Delhi, Sep09: The National Restaurant Association of India Delhi NCR Chapter, in association with Ownly, hosted an NRAI x Ownly Partner Meet at Social Connaught Place, New Delhi, bringing together over 200 restaurant owners and industry stakeholders for an evening of networking, engagement and discussions around the evolving food delivery ecosystem. The engagement was led by Sandeep Anand Goyle, NRAI Delhi Chapter Head, Amit Bagga, Co-Chapter Head – Delhi, Varun Khera, NRAI Noida Chapter Head, and Goumtesh Singh, NRAI Gurugram Chapter Head along with members of the Delhi Chapter. Representing Ownly were Amar Choudhary, VP – Restuarant Operations, and Rizwan Shaikh, VP-Supply.
Following engagements with restaurant communities in Bengaluru, Pune and Kolkata, Ownly brought the conversation to Delhi NCR, where restaurant owners came together to discuss emerging delivery models and their implications for restaurant businesses.
Exploring a Different Approach to Food Delivery
The partner meet provided a platform for Delhi NCR restaurant community to engage directly with Ownly and discuss its approach to food delivery, along with the opportunities and considerations associated with emerging delivery models.
Ownly, a food delivery platform by Rapido, connects restaurants with customers for online food ordering and delivery. Its key differentiator is a zero-commission model, under which restaurants are not charged the traditional percentage-based commission on food sales. Instead, the platform separates food sales from delivery, with delivery managed through logistics partners.
For restaurant partners, this approach is intended to provide greater predictability in revenue from food sales and reduce the need to build commission costs into menu pricing. Ownly also aims to enable online menu prices closer to dine-in prices, while customers pay distance-based delivery charges.
The platform’s broader objective is to create a food delivery ecosystem that offers greater transparency and predictability for restaurants, while enabling consumers to access everyday value without relying primarily on discounts.
Creating Space for Industry Dialogue
For NRAI, the engagement reflects the association’s continued focus on creating platforms where restaurant businesses can engage directly with ecosystem partners and contribute to discussions shaping the industry. Through its city chapters, NRAI provides restaurant owners with opportunities to exchange perspectives, discuss emerging developments and address issues that impact the sustainability of the food service sector.
The discussion also highlighted three priorities for emerging food delivery models: clear, written terms on fees and pricing; stable and predictable structures; and greater collaboration with industry bodies such as NRAI to share data, co-create best practices and ensure smaller operators are not left behind.
Speaking on the occasion, Sandeep Anand Goyle, NRAI Delhi Chapter Head, said,
“The food delivery landscape has changed significantly over the years, and restaurants today are looking for models that offer greater clarity and predictability in how they operate. The conversation cannot be limited to commissions alone; it is also about how restaurants can build sustainable businesses while continuing to offer value to consumers. As the sector evolves rapidly, it is important to examine different approaches to food delivery and understand their impact on restaurant businesses. The discussion with Ownly brought these questions to the table, allowing restaurant members to engage with the model and share their perspectives on what a more balanced food delivery ecosystem could look like.”
Speaking on the occasion, Amit Bagga, NRAI Delhi Co-Chapter Head – Delhi said,
“Ownly is bringing a fresh and progressive approach to food delivery, with a model that puts restaurants at the heart of the ecosystem. Its zero-commission approach can create greater opportunities for restaurants to participate in the delivery economy, while giving them the flexibility to offer competitive prices and build stronger relationships with their customers. As the delivery market continues to grow, such models can play an important role in expanding the ecosystem, bringing more restaurants and businesses into the organised delivery space and creating opportunities across the wider food service industry. We see this as a positive development for the restaurant community and believe that greater participation, accessibility and value creation can contribute significantly to the continued growth of India’s food service economy.”
The evening concluded with interactions between restaurant owners, industry stakeholders and the Ownly team, with discussions centred on restaurant economics, transparency and the evolving role of technology in food delivery.