Swiggy Vs Zomato: Business Model, Marketing Strategies, Strengths, and Financials Compared

Craving a delicious meal but stuck in the office? Your hunger solution is just a few taps away, courtesy of food delivery giants Zomato and Swiggy. However, when it comes to the Zomato vs Swiggy debate, choosing between the two can be quite a challenge.

This blog will explore the ‘bitter-and-sweet’ battle between Swiggy and Zomato, their strengths, unique features, financial comparison, and company overview.

Swiggy Vs Zomato Overview

Swiggy

Swiggy is an Indian online food ordering and delivery company. In 2010, Sriharsha Majety and Nandan Reddy founded Bundl, an e-commerce website for courier services within India, but it failed. Majety and Reddy then teamed up with Rahul Jaimini and launched Swiggy, a company focusing on online food delivery. 

Back then, several startups struggled in the food delivery market in India. In 2015, Swiggy started operations in Bengaluru and quickly gained traction. They secured their first round of funding in May 2015 and launched their app around this time. It currently operates in over 500 Indian cities and provides on-demand grocery deliveries under the name Instamart and a same-day package delivery service called Swiggy Genie.

Zomato

Similar to Swiggy, Zomato is an Indian food delivery company and restaurant aggregator. It offers food delivery options from partner restaurants in over 1,000 Indian cities and towns. Zomato was founded in 2008 by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah and was originally known as “Foodiebay.” It has now grown to employ more than 1,000 people and has a presence in 19 countries. It has become India’s first food-tech unicorn and the first food-tech brand to go public.

Swiggy Vs Zomato Business Model

Swiggy

Swiggy’s business model is based on hyper-local, on-demand food delivery and operates on the following models,

1. Dual Partnership Model: Swiggy works with restaurant partners, who prepare the food for customers, and with delivery partners, who pick up restaurant orders and deliver them to customers.

2. Commission: Swiggy charges a 15-25% commission on the total order bill. The commission depends on the number of orders and the restaurant’s location, among other factors. Depending on distance and order value, customers are charged a delivery fee on top of the restaurant bill.

Zomato

Zomato, on the contrary, has two core B2C (Business-to-customer) offerings, food delivery and dining out, along with the business-to-business (B2B) offering, Hyperpure, which connects restaurants in India directly with fresh produce sourced from local farms to ensure the highest quality ingredients.

Other parts of the business include Zomato Pro, a customer loyalty program that includes both food delivery and dining out.

The company generates most of its revenue from food delivery and the related commissions from restaurant partners for using the platform. Restaurant partners also spend on advertisements on the platform.

The food delivery business thrives on a three-way partnership.

1. Customers – who conveniently order meals from their favourite restaurants.
2. Delivery Partners – who ensure that the food gets delivered promptly and safely to the customers.
3. Restaurant Partners – who offer their menus on the platform while trying to reach a wider audience and increase sales.

Furthermore, the restaurant receives the total order value and packaging charges after deducting the commission and discounts it offers. The delivery partner receives 100% of tips and delivery fees from customers, and the company also provides them with an additional incentive payment.

From browsing menus and reading reviews to booking a table and paying the bill, Zomato streamlines your entire dining-out experience.

Read Also: Blinkit Case Study: Business Model, Financials, and SWOT Analysis

Swiggy Vs Zomato Marketing Strategy

Swiggy

Swiggy cleverly targets the young and tech-savvy demographic in India, typically aged 18-35. These individuals use smartphones extensively and rely on online platforms for convenience. This includes students, working professionals, and families who might want to skip cooking for multiple reasons.

The company tries to reach its target audience through social media platforms like Instagram. It uses these platforms to share mouthwatering food pictures, create interactive content and giveaways to boost engagement, and partner with social media influencers. 

Zomato

Zomato focuses on paid marketing to keep the platform buzzing. The company collaborates with restaurant partners to create engaging campaigns across online and offline channels, including search engines, social media, TV & Radio ads, and eye-catching outdoor displays. This comprehensive approach attracts new customers and keeps the existing ones happy and satisfied. Zomato is also known for its engaging and witty social media presence.

Swiggy Vs Zomato Strengths

Swiggy

Swiggy boasts a larger delivery fleet, resulting in faster deliveries. They have a wider reach in tier-2 and tier-3 cities, focusing on its core food delivery service and integrating other services like grocery delivery within the same app.

Swiggy has recently ventured into the instant delivery business with its brand, Swiggy Instamart. This is an in-grown brand, and thus, it has a smaller network than Zomato’s Blinkit. 

Zomato

Zomato offers a more comprehensive user experience, including user reviews and ratings that can help you decide where to order from. They also have a wider selection of restaurants as partners. Zomato goes beyond just food delivery with its recent acquisition of Blinkit, an instant delivery app. 

Read Also: Zomato Case Study: Business Model, SWOT Analysis, and Financials Explained

Swiggy Vs Zomato Financial Highlights

Balance Sheet and Income Statement

	SWIGGY		ZOMATO
Key Metrics	FY 2023	FY 2022	FY 2023	FY 2022
Total Liabilities	1667.7	1606.2	2144.5	828.1
Total Assets	11477.6	14205.7	21598.7	17327
Revenue from Operations	4653.3	3557.1	7079.4	4192.4
Total Expenses	8886.0	6740.9	8775.3	6200.5
Profit After Tax	-3757.6	3768.1	-971	-1222.5

Even though revenue from operations increased, both companies are currently unprofitable, with losses widening. However, Zomato’s losses have decreased compared to previous years, with a loss of 971 crores in 2023, and the company seems to be on track to profitability. 

Cash Flow Statement

	SWIGGY		ZOMATO
Cash Flows	FY 2023	FY 2022	FY 2023	FY 2022
Net Cash Flow from operating activities	(347.67)	(229.39)	(844)	(693)
Net Cash Flows from investing activities	333.95	(1072.76)	457.3	(7937.8)
Net Cash Flows from financing activities	(6.04)	1367.03	(127.4)	8749.8

The graph reveals the cash-burning phase of the two businesses. While both companies burn cash heavily, Swiggy is in a much better position than Zomato due to its better cash flow from the operations state. 

Read Also: Swiggy Case Study: Fundings, Business Model, Financials, and SWOT Analysis

Conclusion

Swiggy excels in core delivery services with a user-friendly app and a focus on speed. They’ve expanded into related areas for additional revenue streams. Zomato takes a multi-faceted approach, offering features like restaurant discovery and instant delivery, aiming to be a one-stop shop for all your dining needs. Both Swiggy and Zomato constantly adopt new strategies to stay ahead in the competitive Indian food delivery market. Ultimately, both Swiggy and Zomato offer excellent services, and their constant innovation ensures a dynamic and competitive food delivery landscape in India.

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