Swiggy launches ready-to-occupy kitchens 'Swiggy Access' for restaurant partners

Online food ordering and delivery startup Swiggy has launched Swiggy Access, an initiative which allows its restaurant partners to set up kitchen spaces in their neighbourhoods.

With no rent or deposit facility, these ready-to-occupy kitchens will offer the company's restaurant partners, a basic setup with the required amenities.

As part of the initial launch, the foodtech startup has set up a 3,200 sq.ft “Access” kitchen in the Marathahalli suburb of Bengaluru. Space will be shared by two of its restaurant partners—Leon Grill and Keventers.

The company's own private brands, including The Bowl Company, House of Dabbas and Punjabi Rasoi, will also share the kitchen space.

"Over the years Swiggy insights have helped us understand that people from several parts of our cities long for a much better selection of food, including their favourite restaurants in their neighbourhood," said Sriharsha Majety, founder and CEO of Swiggy, reported Mint.

Through its 'Access' feature, the foodtech startup plans to introduce about 40 partner restaurants to newer neighbourhoods across the country in the next six months.

The firm has tied up with finance lender Indifi Technologies to provide working capital loans to its restaurant partners. It raised $80 million Series A funding led by Naspers in May 2017. Till date, it has raised about $155 million funding.

Other renowned backers of the startup include Accel Partners and SAIF Partners.

Last month, Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart also hinted to invest in the Bengaluru-headquartered startup.

Swiggy's biggest rival Zomato too has a similar model of 'Cloud Kitchens' where it will provide plug-and-play spaces to restaurants.

Also Read: Zomato versus Swiggy: Who will win the food delivery battle and why?

The two giants of the Indian foodtech space are in talks for a prospective merger. Apart from Zomato, UberEats, Foodpanda, Google's Areo, and Faasos are other competitors to Swiggy in this segment.