'Zomato, Swiggy, Zepto, Please Don't': Bombay Shaving Company CEO Raises Concerns Over India’s Quick Food Delivery Trend

Shantanu Deshpande, Founder and CEO of Bombay Shaving Company, has expressed concerns over the rapid growth of India’s quick food delivery industry and its impact on public health.

In a LinkedIn post on Sunday (15 December), Deshpande called attention to the “biggest epidemic” of poor nutrition caused by the consumption of unhealthy processed and ultra-processed foods, which are often high in palm oil and sugar.

Highlighting the challenges posed by the quick commerce food industry, Deshpande criticized the preparation and delivery practices of food delivery platforms.

“Frozen purees and curries and old vegetables heated and garnished with dhaniya to look fresh and slammed in some two-wheeler who rides like Mad Max to your door in 10 min cos you couldn't wait another 15 min or you were too lazy to chadhao a cooker of daal chawal,” he said.

Deshpande shared his shock after a conversation with a fellow founder of a quick commerce food brand. “Cook time 2 min, delivery time 8 min. A ‘qcom for food’ founder told me this and I lost my mind,” he wrote.

In his post, Deshpande urged investors and founders in the food delivery sector to focus on improving the quality of the food being delivered. “And all the investors and founders are already finding fancy words for this to bake it into the next big wave of Indian commerce. Zomato and Swiggy and Zepto - please, don’t. And if you are so keen, please make the product palatable,” he added.

He also advised people to cook their meals instead of relying on 10-minute food deliveries, emphasizing the long-term health risks of consuming such food. “Most of all, everyone else - please cook. It’s an adult skill. No one is too busy to take 10 min out to put a decent dal chawal or smoothie or salad or sandwich together,” Deshpande wrote.

Warning regulators to monitor the situation closely, Deshpande expressed hope for innovation in the sector that could deliver “non-stale and decent food in 10 min.” However, he cautioned, “I don’t think we’re close to there yet.”

He concluded with a reminder of the importance of nutrition: “The gut is the epicentre of your existence. YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.”