NRAI Bengaluru Secures OTP Consent and Delivery Platform Transparency

The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) Bengaluru chapter has concluded a series of discussions with leading food delivery platforms operating in the city, securing initial operational updates that include OTP-based merchant consent for discount programmes and greater overall transparency regarding promotional participation.

The high-level talks were held in direct response to widespread grievances voiced by restaurant owners across Bengaluru. Member establishments had raised serious concerns regarding high commission fees charged by delivery aggregators, aggressive discounting practices, and a lack of transparency surrounding daily platform operations.

According to the industry body, these recent discussions have successfully established a structured engagement framework, creating a formal channel for direct dialogue between food delivery platform leadership and local restaurant representatives.

Speaking on the progress made during the negotiations, Ananth Narayan, Bengaluru Chapter Head of the NRAI, confirmed that platform leadership engaged constructively on the key issues raised by local business owners.

"Over the past few weeks, we’ve had constructive discussions with the leading food delivery platforms on concerns raised by our members, particularly around commissions, discounting practices and operational transparency," Narayan said.

Narayan explained that while substantial work remains to be completed, these early outcomes represent encouraging first steps toward building greater trust across the city's restaurant industry. In addition to pursuing changes with established platforms, NRAI Bengaluru is actively encouraging innovation in delivery business models that offer restaurants greater commercial choice and more sustainable financial arrangements.

As part of this strategy, NRAI Bengaluru has entered into a partnership with a food delivery platform to explore restaurant-first models. The collaboration is testing alternative framework options that feature zero-commission structures, predictable commercial terms, and transparent pricing.

"The objective is not to promote one platform over another, but to encourage healthy competition and create more sustainable options that strengthen the overall food delivery ecosystem," Narayan said.

The commercial negotiations come at a time when restaurant operators across Bengaluru are dealing with multiple economic headwinds, including rising property rentals, food inflation, manpower shortages, and elevated energy expenses.