Coronavirus | Amazon enters as competition to Swiggy and Zomato in food delivery in Bengaluru

Amazon India announced on Thursday that is set to launch itself into the food delivery operations market in select areas around Bengaluru. This latest initiative from Amazon called 'Amazon Food' has come after testing had been carried out over the past few months and a time when food delivery companies such as Swiggy and Zomato recently laid off over 1,500 employees due to setbacks the companies have encountered due to the global COVID-19 outbreak. A spokesperson for Amazon India said, "Customers have been telling us for some time that they would like to order prepared meals on Amazon in addition to shopping for all other essentials. This is particularly relevant in present times as they stay home safe. We also recognize that local businesses need all the help they can get,".

As of now, no further plans other than their foraying into the food delivery operations in Bengaluru has been revealed and that services will be at select pin codes in the South Indian cosmopolitan city. Amazon India's spokesperson further added saying, "...allowing customers to order from handpicked local restaurants and cloud kitchens that pass our high hygiene certification bar. We are adhering to the highest standards of safety to ensure our customers remain safe while having a delightful experience,".

Set to be launched initially in four pincodes in Bengaluru namely Mahadevapura, Marathalli, Whitefield and Bellandur, Amazon's food delivery services will be covering as many as over 100 restaurants among which include popular eateries such as Box8, Chai point, Chaayos, Faasos, Mad Over Donuts as well as restaurants from hotel chains like Radisson and Marriott (Shao, Melange and M Cafe among others). Orders for food delivery to homes can be placed on the Amazon app and is at present only available to customers in the pin code areas.

Home food delivery service operations' testing has been going on for over six months among Amazon's employees across India. The leading global e-commerce powerhouse company's entry into the food delivery business will no doubt pose a huge challenge up ahead for competitors such as Swiggy and Zomato considering they have been leading the business in the country for well over a long period of time now. Both Swiggy and Zomato have made several adjustments and changes in the arrangements to their services ever since the nation went into lockdown mode since March 25 to stop the spread of the coronavirus.