Zomato launches new function referred to as ‘Meals Rescue’ – Here is the way it works for patrons and eating places – Business Information

Zomato introduced a new feature on Monday called ‘Food Rescue’, designed to minimise food wastage from cancelled orders.

Explaining the feature, Zomato said that when an order is cancelled, the meal will become available to nearby customers at an “unbeatable price” and in its original, untampered packaging. These orders will be delivered in just minutes, giving customers an opportunity to enjoy fresh meals at a discounted rate.

Zomato founder Deepinder Goyal explained, “We don’t encourage order cancellations at Zomato because it leads to a tremendous amount of food wastage.”

“Inspite of stringent policies, and a no-refund policy for cancellations, more than 4 lakh perfectly good orders get cancelled on Zomato, for various reasons by customers. The top concern for us, the restaurant industry, and even the customers who cancel these orders, is to somehow save the food from going to waste,” he added.

Here’s how food rescue works for customers

• The cancelled orders will appear on the app for customers within a 3-kilometre radius of the delivery partner carrying the order.
• The option to claim the cancelled order will be available only for a limited time to ensure freshness.
• The original customer, as well as others in their immediate vicinity, will not be able to claim the order.
• The amount paid by the new customer will be shared with the original customer (if they made an online payment) and the restaurant partner. Zomato will not retain any proceeds except for required government taxes.
• Orders containing sensitive items such as ice cream, shakes, smoothies, or certain perishable goods will not be eligible for Food Rescue.
• Customers who prefer vegetarian food will only see vegetarian options.

Zomato said that restaurant partners will continue to receive compensation for the cancelled order. If the new customer claims the order, the restaurant will receive a portion of the payment made by the new customer.

Restaurant partners can view Food Rescue orders in the Order History section of the Restaurant Partner app and in their weekly payout statements under the Order Level tab. If restaurant partners choose not to participate, they can opt out of the program directly through the app or dashboard, it said.

Delivery partners will be fully compensated for the entire trip, from picking up the canceled order to delivering it to the new customer’s location, Zomato said in the blogpost.