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Zomato, a popular food delivery platform, has introduced a novel initiative called 'Food Rescue' to address the growing issue of food waste. This feature allows users to purchase recently cancelled orders at a discounted price, offering a win-win situation for customers, restaurants, and delivery partners.
The core concept behind 'Food Rescue' is to prevent perfectly good food from being discarded. When an order is cancelled, it is displayed on the app to users within a 3 km radius of the delivery partner holding the order. These users can then purchase the food at a significantly reduced rate, ensuring it doesn't go to waste. To maintain freshness, the option is only available for a limited time. Additionally, the original customer and individuals nearby are not shown the Food Rescue option, ensuring fairness and privacy.
The 'Food Rescue' feature benefits all stakeholders. Customers enjoy access to delicious food at a bargain price, while restaurants receive payment for the cancelled order as usual, plus a share of the new customer's payment. Delivery partners are fully compensated for the entire delivery process, from initial pickup to final drop-off. This ensures that everyone involved benefits from the initiative. Sensitive items like ice creams, shakes, and smoothies are excluded from the Food Rescue program to guarantee quality. Similarly, vegetarian customers will not be presented with non-vegetarian orders, adhering to dietary preferences.
Zomato's 'Food Rescue' initiative demonstrates a commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. By reducing food waste and providing access to affordable meals, Zomato contributes to a more sustainable food system. The feature's success will depend on user adoption and restaurant participation. If widely embraced, it could become a significant force in combating food waste within the food delivery industry.
Beyond its impact on food waste, Zomato's 'Food Rescue' also highlights a shift in consumer behavior. As environmental concerns become increasingly important, consumers are seeking businesses that prioritize sustainability. Initiatives like 'Food Rescue' demonstrate a company's commitment to these values and can attract environmentally conscious customers.
Source: Zomato's new 'Food Rescue' feature saves meals, cuts waste – how does it work?