Business / Uber In Talks With Swiggy To Sell Indian Food-Delivery Business

Uber Technologies Inc. entered India's competitive food-delivery business, it's in talks to sell its Uber Eats operations in country to rival Swiggy. Uber started its food-delivery business in India in 2017 with much fanfare & huge budget. Talks between Uber and Bangalore-based Bundl Technologies Pvt, which owns the Swiggy brand, are progressing and a deal could be sealed within the coming weeks.

Swiggy spokesman said by email that Swiggy doesn't comment on "market rumors or speculation," while Uber didn't immediately respond to email and WhatsApp messages seeking comment on Sunday.

Uber started its food-delivery business in India in 2017 with much fanfare and a huge marketing budget. The San Francisco-based company has poured resources into the operations to lure users with bargain food deals delivered to the doorstep but it's pitted against competitors with powerful investors. Swiggy raised $1 billion in funding in December from investors including South Africa's Naspers Ltd. and China's Tencent Holdings Ltd.

Uber Eats operates in more than 37 Indian cities, the company said last year. Swiggy, founded in 2014, delivers from about 60,000 restaurants in at least 80 cities, while the other leading player, New Delhi-based Zomato, transports orders from 80,000 restaurants in 150 Indian cities.

Uber's pull-back from food delivery in India, follows retreats from its ride-hailing business in China, Russia and, most recently, Southeast Asia, as the SoftBank-backed company prepares for a high-profile public offering later this year.