Two tandoori chickens went missing. On Rakshabandhan night, no less.
Now, festivals are always tough for our kitchens — orders spike, staff works at full tilt, and the odd mishap is expected. But this time, what looked like a small glitch turned into a pattern.
When One Missing Order Turns into a Chain Reaction
It started in our Manesar kitchen. A simple Aloo-Pyaz Paratha order — rider picked it up, told Zomato support “can’t deliver”, and vanished with the package.
In another kitchen, it was Malai Chaap and Paneer Tikka — picked up, reassigned mid-way, complete chaos.
Then came the main act: A rider walked into a third kitchen, chatted with the staff, called out the order ID, picked up two tandoori chickens… and left. Moments later, another rider showed up looking for the same two tandoori chickens.
By now, customers were calling non-stop:
“Guests are here, where’s my tandoori chicken?”
We cooked it again — while tickets got tangled, riders argued with each other, staff got yelled at, and managers tried to keep everyone calm.
The Deeper Problem
The culprit? ONDC riders from Magicpin. They’ve gone AWOL on us before, so our teams are usually cautious.
Zomato, on the other hand, had been our reliable workhorse — their “muscle” kept riders in line. We’d hand over orders without hesitation, saving precious minutes during peak hours.
But this time, it was Zomato too. And their response? “Don’t give a duplicate order, raise a ticket.” Sure — but with a customer hosting a party in real-time, what restaurant can wait for ticket resolutions?
Is This a Sign of a Bigger Shift?
When riders start planning their pickups to disappear with food, switching off phones, and going offline… it’s not just theft — it smells of revolt.
If Zomato’s enforcement is slipping, it’s a sign the gig worker fatigue is deeper than we think. The current model — the one that powers India’s delivery economy — is fraying.
Where Do We Go from Here?
Logistics in F&B has been optimized for speed, not reliability. But when trust between kitchens and riders breaks, speed means nothing.
I see huge scope for innovation in delivery logistics — not just drones, but creative systems that ensure reliability without burning out the people in the chain.
If you’re building something in this space — let’s talk. We’re just a humble group of restaurants serving wholesome, funsome food. But we’d love to be part of shaping what comes next.
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