Zomato and Swiggy posted unprecedented order volumes on New Year’s Eve, a night that saw a flurry of strike calls from delivery partners across major Indian metros. While unions demanded better wages and working conditions, the two platforms reported record‑breaking sales of biryani, pizza, and butter chicken, underscoring the resilience of the on‑demand food market. Founder Deepinder Goyal defended the controversial 10‑minute delivery model, arguing that technology and logistics have evolved to meet consumer expectations even amid unrest. This article examines the surge, the dishes that topped the charts, the logistics behind ultra‑fast delivery, and the broader implications for India’s gig‑economy.
Surge despite strike calls
Despite coordinated protests in Delhi, Bangalore, and Mumbai, the platforms’ order books did not wobble. According to internal dashboards shared with the press, Zomato logged a 38% increase in orders compared with the previous New Year’s Eve, while Swiggy saw a 42% jump. Analysts attribute the rise to three factors: heightened holiday spending, a growing preference for home‑cooked meals delivered at speed, and aggressive promotional discounts that offset the impact of the strike.
Top dishes dominate the night
Data released by both companies highlighted a narrow menu of crowd‑pleasers that drove the spike. The following table captures the top‑selling items and their approximate order counts for the night of 31 December 2025:
| Dish | Orders (approx.) | Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Biryani | 1,240,000 | Zomato & Swiggy |
| Margherita pizza | 980,000 | Swiggy |
| Butter chicken | 860,000 | Zomato |
| Paneer tikka | 420,000 | Both |
The dominance of biryani reflects its status as a festive staple, while pizza’s performance signals the continued influence of Western fast‑food trends in Indian urban households.
The 10‑minute delivery promise
Goyal reiterated that the “10‑minute delivery” claim is not a marketing gimmick but a logistics blueprint built on micro‑hubs, AI‑driven demand forecasting, and a fleet of electric scooters. He noted that during the New Year’s rush, the average delivery time across tier‑1 cities fell to 9.8 minutes, a marginal improvement over the 10.2‑minute average recorded a month earlier. The model, however, has drawn criticism for pressuring couriers to sprint through traffic, a point unions raised during the strike.
Consumer backlash and regulatory scrutiny
While the numbers look rosy, consumer sentiment is mixed. Social media threads accused the platforms of “exploiting holiday demand” and called for stricter enforcement of labor standards. The Ministry of Labour has announced a review of gig‑worker contracts, and the Competition Commission of India is monitoring the market for potential anti‑competitive pricing tactics that could arise from such high‑volume promotions.
What the record means for the market
The record‑breaking night signals that demand for ultra‑fast food delivery is still expanding, even as the industry grapples with workforce discontent. Investors appear undeterred; Zomato’s share price closed up 4% on the day, while Swiggy’s parent company reported a 6% rise in its quarterly earnings forecast. If the trend continues, the 10‑minute model could become the new baseline, prompting rivals to invest heavily in micro‑fulfilment centres and AI routing.
In conclusion, the New Year’s Eve surge demonstrates that consumer appetite for rapid, doorstep meals can outpace labour disputes, at least in the short term. However, sustained growth will depend on how platforms reconcile speed with fair working conditions, and whether regulators step in to balance the interests of couriers, businesses, and diners alike.
Source: Times of India
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