The week in F&B: What Swiggy and Zomato really cost a restaurant in 2026
This week: 1 new piece from us, 3 themes, 6 headlines, the number of the week.
The week in F&B — September 29, 2026.
New from Restronomics
Licences you need to open a café in India, and the order to apply
Guide. FSSAI, GST, Shops & Establishments, municipal, fire, signage and music licences for an Indian café, what they cost and the order to apply.
The picture this week
Operational hurdles: Compliance, hygiene, and cash flow
From UPI merchant fee debates to FDA crackdowns on restaurant hygiene, compliance is becoming more complex. Operators must stay ahead of regulations (e.g., school zone junk food bans) and use data-driven tools to manage cash flow and equipment costs before they spiral.
Supply chain shocks hit input costs and logistics
Crude oil surges are squeezing diesel margins (and fuel costs for food trucks/cloud kitchens), while edible oil and wheat prices are volatile due to global disruptions. Operators should hedge fuel expenses and monitor commodity prices for menu adjustments.
Regional expansion and niche concepts gain traction
Cafes (Vanilla Miel, Stand By Coffee) and specialty brands (Kona Ice, Love & Honey) are expanding into new neighborhoods, while multi-unit groups (Dallas’ Local Favorite) diversify portfolios. Independent operators should study these localized strategies for scaling without heavy capital.
From the wire
- Milind Deora backs FSSAI crackdown, says one year is fair for food cos to shift to new labelling — Economic Times
- A Rs 99 bet: India’s QSRs rethink the value game — Economic Times
- India cuts import duty on palm, soybean oils to lower edible oil prices — The Hindu BusinessLine — Agri
- A red hexagon on your food pack? FSSAI proposes new warning-label regime — Economic Times
- Does Your Holiday Menu Actually Make Money? — FSR Magazine
- Mills sold only 7 lakh tonne of sugar at ₹50/kg in August, average in 2025-26 season ₹41/kg — The Hindu BusinessLine — Agri
The number
30% — At the top end, what cut do delivery apps take out of each order?
Commissions run from 15% to 30%. Two out of three customers say they would rather order from you directly — which costs you nothing to offer. Source: Restaurant Velocity, 2026.
Try this week
Delivery margin calculator — What you net per delivery order after commission, packaging and discounts — against dine-in margin in real time. The gap is the cost of being on the platform.