Bengaluru Restaurants Threaten Boycott of Swiggy and Zomato

The Bruhat Bengaluru Hotels Association and other local restaurant groups in Bengaluru have threatened to boycott food delivery platforms Swiggy and Zomato starting August 15, 2026. The associations demand a streamlined commission structure, arguing that current rates between 8% and 28% are exorbitant and force eateries to inflate menu prices by up to 43% to protect margins.

Beyond commissions, the associations are seeking transparency in billing and an end to unilateral payment deductions following customer complaints. They also demand that platforms obtain consent before applying promotional discounts. While restaurants are considering emerging zero-commission competitors like Rapido's Ownly and a planned service from Flipkart, they acknowledge that Swiggy and Zomato still hold the largest customer bases.

The National Restaurant Association of India supports the grievances of the Bengaluru eateries but advocates for dialogue over a full boycott. Sagar Daryani, president of the national body, noted it is unfortunate that restaurants felt cornered into considering a boycott as their only option.