Unpalatable Turf war

The National Restaurant Association of India has filed a case in the Competition Commission of India against anti-competitive practices of Zomato and Swiggy. These have got worse during the pandemic

- Shivanand Pandit

THE battle between restaurants and food delivery apps has taken a new turn. Indian food apps Swiggy and Zomato may find an inquiry against them over anti-competitive activities as the local restaurant body, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), has filed a complaint against them with the Competition Commission of India (CCI).

First co-founded in 1982, the NRAI looks after the welfare of over 5,00,000 restaurants and cafeterias. It is controlled by a team of 35 members, comprising CEOs and owners across the industry. They build a network between national and international brands in the food and beverages sector. Its principal emphasis is on strengthening the Indian foodservice sector by implementing plans across restaurants and delivery services.

Since 2018, Swiggy and Zomato have been encountering severe objections from restaurants throughout India. In early 2019, NRAI had raised the flag and communicated to the CCI about Zomato and Swiggy mishandling their leading titles. As a result, CCI began a market study and organised several seminars to bring the two parties together to solve their problems. By the second half of 2019, hundreds of restaurants had joined a nationwide logout movement against Swiggy and Zomato. However, with Covid-19 starting in 2020, people preferred ordering food online rather than going out to eat and this dispute took a backseat.