Rapido’s standalone food delivery platform Ownly has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) to work together on transparent pricing, restaurant profitability, and better food delivery practices. The agreement was signed during the “Serving Bengaluru Together” conference held on MG Road in Bengaluru.
The conference brought together representatives from Ownly, NRAI, and restaurant partners to discuss food delivery models centred on transparent pricing, sustainable restaurant operations, and an improved customer experience. Under the partnership, Ownly and NRAI will collaborate in a structured manner, with the industry body supporting conversations around Ownly’s zero-commission model while exploring ways to create greater value for restaurants without affecting affordability for consumers.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Sagar Daryani, President of NRAI and CEO & Co-Founder of Wow! Momo; Aravind Sanka, Head of Ownly; and Ananth Narayan, Founder of JustBLR Group and Head of the NRAI Bengaluru Chapter, along with several restaurant partners.
Sagar Daryani, President, National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), CEO and Co-Founder, Wow! Momo, said, “The restaurant industry has been seeking greater transparency and predictability in food delivery for a long time. As an industry body, our role is to work with ecosystem partners to explore models that can better address these needs and create long-term value for restaurants. This partnership with Ownly is part of that larger effort. It gives us an opportunity to understand how a zero-commission model works in practice, gather feedback from our members and continue advocating for solutions that strengthen the restaurant ecosystem while delivering a better experience for consumers.”
Ownly also presented early operational insights following its expansion across Bengaluru. The platform was first launched as a pilot in Koramangala and HSR Layout in August 2025 before rolling out citywide in March 2026. According to the company, restaurants on the platform have seen improved profit margins and higher repeat orders. These findings were shared with NRAI members as part of discussions on alternative food delivery models and their impact on restaurant businesses.
Aravind Sanka, Head, Ownly, said, “The numbers since March are telling us something we already believed: when you remove the hidden costs, both sides of the market respond. The repeat rates we are seeing are higher than anything we saw in the pilot. That is what happens when diners trust the price on the screen, and when restaurants are not engineering their menus around a commission they resent. We built Ownly to make food delivery feel fair – for the person ordering and for the kitchen that cooked it. What we are seeing in Bengaluru tells us that fairness is also good business.”
A panel discussion during the conference explored the impact of zero-commission food delivery on restaurant margins, pricing transparency, and customer trust. Speakers also discussed how value meal offerings could make food delivery more accessible while helping restaurants maintain profitability.
During the event, NRAI highlighted three key expectations from food delivery platforms: clear written policies on pricing and fees, stable commercial terms, and closer collaboration with the association to share data, develop industry best practices, and support smaller restaurant businesses. The association added that it will monitor the outcomes of this partnership and assess the potential for similar models in other cities.
Ananth Narayan, Founder, JustBLR Group and NRAI Bengaluru Chapter Head, said, “Bengaluru has always had a vibrant restaurant community and an equally engaged consumer base that continues to shape the city’s food delivery ecosystem. This partnership with Ownly is an opportunity to further strengthen delivery models that better support restaurants while enhancing convenience and value for consumers. It reflects the industry’s continued effort to work collaboratively with ecosystem partners and build solutions that contribute to the long-term sustainability of the restaurant and food delivery.”
The conference also featured restaurant partners such as Empire, Vidyarthi Bhavan, and Amintiri, who shared their experiences with Ownly and discussed how alternative delivery models can strengthen customer relationships for restaurants.
