Kolkata: The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), hosted a thought-provoking and impassioned virtual townhall, ‘NRAI Townhall 10.0’ which was attended live by more than 8000 people. The key focus of this Townhall was to discuss and debate the primary issue plaguing the food and restaurant sector, “Are Food Aggregators Helping or Hurting the Restaurant Business in India?”
NRAI Townhall 10.0 saw participation and attendees from a wide-ranging list of industry stakeholders including restaurateurs and industry experts. The townhall provided an engaging platform to debate the complex and fast-declining relationship between food aggregators and the restaurant ecosystem due to the recent uncompetitive practices of the aggregators.
Leading restauranteurs and industry veterans took the time to passionately discuss this critical issue by vociferously highlighting the challenges and opportunities brought about by aggregator platforms. More importantly, it placed the stark reality in front of the fraternity members on the extremely damaging long-term impact on the overall industry if these were left unchecked.
Sagar Daryani, NRAI President, said, “India’s food delivery industry is at a crossroads, with profitability, sustainability, and fairness being put to the test. While we welcome developments such as quick commerce in the food delivery space, we are deeply concerned about aggregators expanding into private labels, leveraging restaurant data, and competing directly with their own partners. This practice not only creates an unfair playing field, but it also undermines the trust that is at the foundation of this ecosystem.”
Sagar Daryani said, “The lack of transparency in policies, rising commissions, and aggressive ad-driven visibility models are all contributing to restaurants’ unsustainable position. We are committed to finding solutions, which include investigating third-party alternatives, encouraging dine-in growth, and working with aggregators on more equitable terms. Our industry’s survival and sustainability rely on creating a balanced ecosystem that considers the interests of all stakeholders.”
During the Townhall, NRAI and its member partners focused on trying to find solutions to increase transparency and trust by attempting to get the Food Aggregators to adhere to clear and fair policies for both parties, including data sharing amongst others, to build trust. The townhall received overwhelming appreciation from all participants for its comprehensive discussions and actionable insights.
NRAI announced its commitment to further engage in continued dialogue with aggregators, policymakers, and industry leaders to advocate for reforms and build a transparent, equitable environment for the restaurant community. The Association firmly believes that a collaborative approach involving the industry, policymakers, and regulators is crucial to ensure the long-term sustainability and growth of the Indian restaurant sector. The association will also publish a detailed report summarizing the key takeaways from the townhall which will be shared with concerned stakeholders.