Flipkart is preparing to test the food delivery business with a pilot program in Bengaluru planned for between May and June, according to The Economic Times. The Walmart-owned e-commerce platform may expand the initiative nationally by late 2026 or early 2027 if initial results are positive, as it diversifies its portfolio ahead of its planned public listing.
The move would place Flipkart in direct competition with Swiggy and Zomato, which collectively dominate more than 90% of India’s organized food delivery market. The segment is valued at roughly $9 billion for fiscal 2025 and projected to reach $25 billion by 2030, according to Jefferies.
Flipkart is currently evaluating two possible entry routes: launching a standalone food delivery app or integrating the service into the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce platform. The company has begun staffing for the initiative as senior leadership assesses both options. This represents a renewed exploration of the category after Flipkart’s earlier discussions to join ONDC’s network did not progress.
The company’s growing quick commerce service, Minutes, could provide a logistical edge. With more than 800 dark stores across India, Flipkart already operates infrastructure capable of supporting fast delivery in high-demand urban areas.
The timing aligns with Flipkart’s broader corporate restructuring efforts. In December, it secured approval from India’s National Company Law Tribunal to relocate its domicile from Singapore to India, setting the stage for its anticipated initial public offering in 2026.
India’s food delivery market remains competitive and capital-intensive. Past entrants including Uber, Ola, and Amazon have exited after short-lived operations. Yet newer players such as Rapido are expanding rapidly, with its Ownly food delivery service now active across Bengaluru. Flipkart’s entry would add another major competitor to a sector expected to attract growing consumer demand through the end of the decade.
