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Zomato, the popular food delivery platform, has introduced a novel initiative called 'Food Rescue' to combat the issue of food waste arising from cancelled orders. This program allows customers within a close proximity to a cancelled order to claim the food at a significantly discounted price, thus preventing it from being discarded. The motivation behind this initiative stems from the alarming statistics of food waste associated with cancellations on food delivery platforms. Zomato itself reported approximately 400,000 orders being cancelled each month, despite having a no-refund policy in place.
The 'Food Rescue' feature functions by notifying users within a 3-kilometer radius of the delivery partner who is carrying the cancelled food. Customers can then claim the order at a discounted rate, receiving the food in its original, untampered packaging within minutes. However, not all orders are eligible for 'Food Rescue'. Items sensitive to distance or temperature, such as ice creams, shakes, smoothies, and certain perishable items, are excluded from the program to ensure the freshness and quality of the food. This initiative has received widespread approval from Zomato's restaurant partners, with 99.9% of them opting to participate.
The financial aspect of the 'Food Rescue' program is structured in a way that benefits both the original customer and the restaurant partner. The payment received from the new customer is shared between the original customer (if they paid online) and the restaurant, with Zomato retaining only the required government fees. The delivery partners are fully compensated for their trip, further promoting the program's sustainability. While the initiative has been met with positive reactions from users, concerns have been raised regarding the effectiveness of the program in significantly reducing food waste. Some users have pointed out the low probability of a user being near a cancelled order, considering the vast geographic reach of Zomato and the number of orders being cancelled. Additionally, users have suggested that the program should not inform the restaurant about the cancellation, as it could lead to unethical practices, such as providing stale or poor-quality food.
Zomato's 'Food Rescue' program presents a promising approach to address the issue of food waste generated by cancelled orders. The program combines an environmentally conscious solution with a consumer-centric approach, offering discounted meals to nearby customers while preventing food from being discarded. However, the success of the initiative hinges on its ability to efficiently connect users with cancelled orders and to ensure that the program is implemented ethically by all parties involved. Only time will tell whether 'Food Rescue' can truly make a significant impact on reducing food waste and providing access to affordable meals for a wider range of customers.
Source: Zomato to sell food at unbeaten price to cut cancelled-orders wastage