Foodpanda has introduced “Express Guarantee” service that promises to deliver food within 45 minutes or money back. The service will commence in Delhi and will foray in Pune market. It has tied up with around 900 vendors in Delhi NCR and Pune and some of the key partnering brands.
The company employed nearly 2,200 people and the layoffs will constitute 15% of the total workforce. The company said that no further layoffs are planned in the near future.The decision was taken after 98% of automation rate was achieved in order processing which will enhance the efficiency of operations.
The major expense for the company was ‘TV and Radio Advertisement’ expense, which stood at INR 18 crores (44% of the total expenses).
The pilot of this proposed partnership with IRCTC, will be launched at the New Delhi Railway station. After successful roll out in the metro city, the service will be extended to more cities like Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Chennai in due course of time. The customers can order meals two hours prior travel.
Foodpanda launches a corporate product specifically targeted at companies offering to pay for meals in the office. The service is already available to corporate customers in India, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and the Philippines, with more of foodpanda’s 40 markets to follow.
After two law students filed a complaint alleging that Foodpanda was levying extra VAT on customers, the Delhi HC instructed the Govt to investigate into the issue. A service element being taxed by the central Govt was being re-taxed by Foodpanda, violating the Delhi Value Added Tax Act 2004, says the petition.