India’s food delivery market is set to see its next phase of growth driven by customer experience, faster deliveries and value-conscious consumption, according to leading aggregators Swiggy and magicpin.Anshoo Sharma, founder and chief executive of magicpin, said growth in 2026 will come from deeper merchant inclusion and catering to users who are increasingly focused on value. magicpin is currently India’s third-largest food delivery platform.“We are scaling by onboarding a wide range of merchants, from single, standalone local restaurants to large brands and national chains, enabling them to participate competitively in the digital economy,” Sharma told PTI.By lowering entry barriers and improving unit economics for merchants, platforms can help build a more balanced and sustainable food delivery ecosystem in 2026 and beyond, he said.Swiggy’s chief executive for food marketplace Rohit Kapoor said food delivery has evolved significantly as consumer lifestyles and priorities have changed.“Meals today have to fit into tighter schedules, longer days and changing priorities. Sometimes it’s about comfort, sometimes about speed, and increasingly, it’s about feeling good about what you eat,” Kapoor said, PTI quoted.Looking ahead to 2026, Kapoor said the opportunity lies in responding to everyday decisions and newer use cases — making food delivery faster when needed, more balanced when required, and consistently reliable.“The challenge will be to scale these experiences thoughtfully, while keeping food accessible and ensuring great customer experience for millions of people who now depend on it as part of daily life,” he added.Sharma said value-conscious users are emerging as a key growth driver as food delivery becomes a daily habit for students, office-goers and families.“At magicpin, we are seeing food delivery become a daily habit across students, office-goers and families who are looking for affordability without compromise,” he said.The company’s focus has been on expanding everyday meal consumption — from late-night campus orders and office lunches to celebration-driven dining — while ensuring users continue to save meaningfully on each order, Sharma added.India’s food delivery platform sector generated Rs 1.2 lakh crore in gross output in 2023-24 and has been expanding at a pace faster than the overall economy, emerging as a significant economic engine, according to an NCAER–Prosus report.The sector’s direct employment rose to 1.37 million in 2023-24 from 1.08 million in 2021-22, the report released earlier this month said.
Food delivery outlook: Experience, speed and value to shape India’s growth story in 2026, say Swiggy and magicpin
