Sat May 03 15:35:17 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Restaurants Rebel Against Food Delivery App Commissions

**Bengaluru, India (May 3, 2025)** — Facing soaring commissions from dominant food delivery apps, Bengaluru restaurants are increasingly turning to alternative delivery methods, including in-house delivery systems and WhatsApp-based ordering. Restaurateurs cite unsustainable commission rates and a lack of control over customer data as key drivers behind this shift.

Chethan Hegde, head of the Bengaluru chapter of the National Restaurants’ Association of India (NRAI), stated that high commissions are pushing many restaurants to the brink of closure, hindering their ability to pay staff salaries. He highlighted the apps’ forced discounts and refusal to share customer data as further grievances.

Several restaurants are already implementing solutions. Just Fresh Point, a vegetarian chain, launched a WhatsApp-based ordering system offering free delivery within 3km and a small fee for longer distances. Co-founder Durgesh Shobhawat emphasized the benefits of increased quality control and a more sustainable, community-focused approach.

This trend is not entirely new. Many restaurants recall operating their own delivery services before the rise of aggregators, often using phone calls. One Jayanagar restaurant owner noted the ability of in-house delivery to foster customer loyalty.

Girish Pai, founder and CEO of GrowthFalcons, a platform on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), suggested that both WhatsApp and ONDC offer viable alternatives, helping restaurants acquire and retain customers without the high commissions charged by aggregators. However, restaurateurs also note logistical challenges with ONDC’s last-mile connectivity. Many are working to resolve these issues to create mutually beneficial systems for both restaurants and customers.

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