The partnership pairs Ownly’s zero-commission delivery platform with the NRAI’s advocacy network to champion transparent pricing, fairer restaurant margins, and greater consumer trust.
BENGALURU, INDIA — July 29, 2026 — Ownly, the standalone food delivery application powered by Rapido, and the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) today hosted the “Serving Bengaluru Together” industry conference at MG Road, Bengaluru. The event marked the official signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two entities, establishing a shared commitment to building a transparent, sustainable online food delivery ecosystem tailored around the needs of both kitchens and consumers.
The conference brought together prominent figures across India’s restaurant and tech landscape, including:
- Sagar Daryani, President of NRAI and CEO & Co-founder of Wow! Momo
- Aravind Sanka, Head of Ownly
- Ananth Narayan, Founder of JustBLR Group and NRAI Bengaluru Chapter Head
Alongside numerous regional restaurant partners, the leadership team outlined how a structured zero-commission framework can reset the unit economics of food delivery.
Redefining Food Delivery Economics
The formal agreement unites Ownly’s delivery model with the NRAI’s national advocacy network. Under the framework, NRAI will leverage its industry reach to help guide the platform’s rollout, gather operator feedback, and refine delivery practices that safeguard restaurant margins without compromising customer convenience.
Addressing the audience, Sagar Daryani, President of the NRAI, emphasized the necessity for systemic reform:
“The restaurant industry has been seeking greater transparency and predictability in food delivery for a long time. As an industry body, our role is to work with ecosystem partners to explore models that can better address these needs and create long-term value for restaurants.
This partnership with Ownly gives us an opportunity to understand how a zero-commission model works in practice, gather feedback from our members, and continue advocating for solutions that strengthen the restaurant ecosystem while delivering a better experience for consumers.”
Strong Signals Following Citywide Expansion
First trialed during an August 2025 pilot in Koramangala and HSR Layout, Ownly transitioned to a citywide rollout in Bengaluru in March 2026. Data presented at the conference demonstrated that removing high commission fees produces noticeable behavioral shifts on both sides of the marketplace. Partner restaurants report healthier operating margins, while diners show increased retention.
Aravind Sanka, Head of Ownly, noted:
“The numbers since March are telling us something we already believed: when you remove hidden costs, both sides of the market respond. The repeat rates we are seeing are higher than anything during the pilot.
That is what happens when diners trust the price on the screen, and when restaurants are not forced to engineer their menus around heavy commissions. We built Ownly to make food delivery fair—for the person ordering and for the kitchen cooking the meal. What we are seeing in Bengaluru proves that fairness is also good business.”
Panel Discussion: Margin Recovery & Price Parity
During a dedicated panel, Daryani, Sanka, and Narayan discussed the practical impacts of price parity and zero-commission models on restaurant health. The panel explored how transparent pricing helps rebuild consumer confidence, eliminating the artificial markups often added to offset third-party platform fees. Additionally, the speakers highlighted how lower operational overhead enables kitchens to offer affordable “value meals” to broader consumer segments without eroding profit margins.
Ananth Narayan, NRAI Bengaluru Chapter Head, highlighted the city’s role as a testing ground for delivery innovation:
“Bengaluru has always had a vibrant restaurant community and an engaged consumer base shaping our local food culture. This partnership with Ownly strengthens delivery models that support restaurants while enhancing value for consumers. It reflects our collective effort to build solutions that ensure long-term sustainability.”
Local Restaurant Community Endorsement
The event featured testimony from diverse Bengaluru food establishments that have integrated Ownly into their delivery channels:
- Empire: The iconic local institution spoke on achieving strong delivery volumes while recovering core operational margins.
- Vidyarthi Bhavan: The legendary heritage eatery discussed its strategic decision to join the platform to establish direct, transparent links with its customer base.
- Amintiri: The popular city patisserie highlighted how zero-commission structures provide alternative channels for premium, direct-to-consumer delivery.
Moving forward, NRAI will continue monitoring performance metrics across Bengaluru partners to refine replicable best practices for future expansion into other metro markets across India.
About Ownly
Ownly is a standalone food delivery platform powered by Rapido, designed around a zero-commission framework to support restaurant profitability and provide transparent, fair pricing for consumers.
About NRAI
The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) is the premier association representing the Indian restaurant industry, advocating for the interests of over 500,000+ eating establishments nationwide.
