The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) is pushing for full access to the recent Competition Commission of India (CCI) investigation into the business practices of online food delivery platforms Zomato and Swiggy.
NRAI argues that arena “exclusivity” agreements—where restaurants are required to list exclusively in one area—harm fair competition.
In a statement, NRAI explained that it filed a complaint with the CCI in September 2021 regarding these anti-competitive practices. Since then, NRAI has been cooperating with the CCI investigation team, providing updates and input throughout the process.
In March 2024, the NRAI received a redacted version of the CCI investigation report. However, in November 2024, the organization asked the Supreme Court to give them access to the full, unedited report, expressing the need to protect the interests of the restaurant industry.
“We have been raising concerns about the unethical practices of food delivery apps for years,” said Sagar Daryani, President of NRAI. “We are pleased that the CCI appears to agree with our concerns, and we hope that it will now expedite the investigation into the other issues we have raised in 2021.”
Although the NRAI has not commented on the exact details of the investigation’s findings, as the report remains confidential, Dariyani stressed the importance of creating a fair market for all stakeholders in the industry.
“We understand that online food delivery is an important part of the growth of the sector,” added Daryani. “But it is important that platforms like Zomato and Swiggy maintain a level playing field to support the growth of all businesses, including restaurants.”
The outcome of this investigation could have important implications for the future of online food delivery platforms and the restaurants that depend on them.
