Swiggy has announced the launch of the ‘99 Store’ for delivering affordable, wholesome meals with no delivery charges.
In a LinkedIn post, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Rohit Kapoor nostalgically talked about his early days in Kolkata, when Rs 100 was enough for a night out, from a Park Street roll and a movie at New Empire to an auto ride home from Gariahat. Fast forward to today, he noted, and that same Rs 100 barely covers the cost of a coffee.
“While I was in my first job in Kolkata, Rs 100 could get you the world. If I had that much in my wallet, it meant a full party. Park Street ka roll, New Empire ka movie ticket (with popcorn), aur Gariahat se auto leke ghar wapas. Aaj ke zamaane mein, ek coffee bhi mushkil se milti hai Rs 100 mein. But one thing hasn’t changed: Young Indians are still counting every rupee, every single day. That’s exactly who we built the 99 Store for,” he wrote in the post.
“A proper, filling meal, from a curated menu that’s designed for daily budgets. With free delivery. Real food, at a real price. Try it out. And tell me what you think,” he added.
The 99 Store aims to offer full meals from a curated menu, carefully designed to fit daily budgets without compromising on quality. With free delivery included, the initiative positions itself as a game-changer in India’s hyper-competitive food delivery market, aiming to bridge the gap between affordability and convenience.
Previously, Blinkit, the quick commerce platform owned by Zomato, had launched Bistro, which focused exclusively on delivering food within 10 minutes. Meanwhile, Zepto, one of the major players in fast grocery delivery, has been rapidly scaling its Zepto Café which offers quick, ready-to-eat meals and beverages as part of its app experience.
While Bistro and Zepto Café focus on instant meals, snacks, and beverages for time-sensitive urban consumers, Swiggy’s ₹99 Store is designed for everyday users who count every rupee.
Swiggy itself had earlier entered the quick-commerce food space with Swiggy Bolt, its 10-minute food delivery service launched in select cities, aiming to cater to customers looking for rapid snacks and meals.
