Walmart-backed Flipkart has started testing a food delivery service internally among employees in Bengaluru, according to an NDTV Profit report.
The pilot marks the e-commerce company’s first move towards entering India’s online food delivery market.
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People familiar with the matter told the publication that the service is being “piloted internally” as Flipkart works on the product and operating model before a wider launch.
According to the report, Flipkart plans to open the service to consumers in Bengaluru later this month.
In July, NDTV Profit had reported that Flipkart was exploring launching the business through a separate app. The report added that the service is also expected to be available on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).
The company is also considering separate branding for the food delivery business, although a final decision on the structure is yet to be taken.
Flipkart had previously indicated that the offering could eventually be available both on a standalone app and through its main platform.
After Bengaluru, the company is planning expansion to Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, according to the sources cited in the report.
The move would bring Flipkart into a market dominated by Swiggy and Eternal-owned Zomato.
At the same time, other companies have been trying different models in the segment. Rapido has entered food delivery with a zero-commission approach while Swiggy and Zomato have tested separate formats aimed at different consumer groups.
