Flipkart, owned by Walmart, is reportedly considering a pilot entry into India’s online food delivery market in Bengaluru between May and June, with a potential nationwide rollout by late 2026 or early 2027. The company has not officially confirmed the development. This would mark Flipkart’s second attempt at entering the segment after an earlier plan through the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce failed to materialise.
The timing aligns with strong growth expectations for India’s food delivery sector, which is projected to expand significantly by 2030. Food delivery offers a high-frequency use case compared with ecommerce’s largely occasion-based purchases and could strengthen Flipkart’s long-term growth story as it prepares for an IPO. The company may also leverage operational capabilities built for its quick commerce arm, Minutes, which reportedly runs more than 800 dark stores, including last-mile logistics and demand forecasting.
However, the market is tightly consolidated, with Zomato and Swiggy controlling most of the space. Strong network effects create high entry barriers, and previous attempts by Uber, Ola and Amazon struggled to scale. Flipkart is reportedly evaluating options such as competitive pricing, alternative commission structures, ONDC integration and faster delivery formats to differentiate itself rather than directly copying incumbent models.
If launched aggressively, Flipkart’s entry could intensify competition, benefiting consumers through lower prices and quicker service while putting pressure on existing players’ margins. More broadly, the move reflects a wider trend of major digital platforms building multi-service ecosystems to capture a larger share of everyday consumer spending and engagement.