The Indian food industry is booming, and platforms like Zomato and Swiggy have changed the way people eat. Instead of walking into restaurants, customers now prefer scrolling through menus online and getting food delivered at their doorstep. But if you’re planning to build a food-tech business like Zomato, one question immediately comes up: Do you need a food license, or is it only for restaurants?
The Role of FSSAI in Food Businesses
In India, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regulates everything related to food safety, hygiene, and quality. Typically, restaurants, cafes, food trucks, cloud kitchens, and even home-based food sellers require an FSSAI license or registration before selling food.
But what about aggregators like Zomato? Since Zomato itself doesn’t cook or sell food, it operates differently from a restaurant. It acts as a technology aggregator that connects customers with licensed food outlets.
Does Zomato Need an FSSAI License?
Yes and no. Here’s the breakdown:
- Restaurants & Food Sellers on Zomato: Must have a valid FSSAI license to be listed. Zomato won’t allow a food partner on its platform without one.
- Zomato as a Platform: Since it facilitates food delivery and doesn’t prepare food directly, Zomato doesn’t need a traditional food license like restaurants. However, it must comply with e-commerce food business regulations under FSSAI and ensure that every listed seller has the required license.
In fact, FSSAI issued specific guidelines for online food aggregators in 2018, making it mandatory for Zomato, Swiggy, and similar apps to verify and onboard only licensed food businesses.
What If You’re Building Your Own “Mini Zomato”?
If you’re starting a food delivery platform or aggregator, you don’t need an FSSAI license for yourself (unless you’re also running a kitchen). But you must:
- Register your business as an e-commerce food aggregator with FSSAI.
- Onboard only FSSAI-licensed food outlets.
- Maintain proper records of your partners’ licenses for audits.
If you also plan to run your own cloud kitchen or dark kitchen, then yes—you will need an FSSAI license for that kitchen.
Why It Still Matters for Entrepreneurs
Even if you’re not cooking, working in the food space means trust and compliance. Customers often check whether restaurants and delivery platforms are FSSAI-compliant before placing orders. If you’re building a business like Zomato, having transparency about licenses will make your platform more credible and attract more restaurant partners.
Final Word
So, do you need a food license to start a business like Zomato? Not directly—unless you’re cooking or selling food yourself. But you must comply with FSSAI’s e-commerce guidelines and ensure that every restaurant or food partner on your platform has the proper license.
In short, if you’re the next food-tech disruptor, focus on building technology, logistics, and partnerships—but don’t ignore food safety laws.
