Swiggy Bolt Expands to 500+ Cities, Surges Ahead as Zomato Exits 10-Minute Delivery Race

Swiggy is racing to the top of India’s ultra-fast food delivery market, announcing the rapid growth of its 10-minute meal service, Bolt, now live in over 500 cities across the country. This milestone comes just seven months after Bolt’s debut in October 2024 and coincides with the withdrawal of rival Zomato from the instant food delivery space, positioning Swiggy as the clear front-runner in the category.

Bolt Captures Market Share with Rapid Expansion

Since its launch, Bolt has quickly moved from major metro areas into Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, indicating strong demand for lightning-fast food delivery beyond just urban hubs. According to Swiggy, one out of every ten orders on its platform is now fulfilled through Bolt—underscoring how deeply the service has embedded itself into consumer behavior in a short span.

Bolt partners with more than 45,000 restaurants, including well-known quick-service chains such as KFC, McDonald’s, Subway, Burger King, Faasos, and Curefoods. Its menu spans over 47 lakh dishes across 26 cuisines, offering customers a wide variety of local and global options that are optimized for quick preparation and consistent quality.

Precision-Driven Logistics Meet Customer Convenience

Bolt’s operational model is engineered for speed without compromising food quality or safety. Deliveries are tightly limited to a 2-kilometer radius, ensuring orders arrive hot and fresh. Unlike other quick delivery models, Swiggy has made a deliberate choice to not tag Bolt orders or incentivize riders based on delivery times. This decision prioritizes rider safety and long-term sustainability over short-term gains.

The service’s curated menu includes high-demand dishes that require minimal prep time, helping partner restaurants fulfil orders more efficiently while maintaining consistency. As a result, restaurants have reported faster kitchen turnaround, reduced order backlog, and increased repeat customer rates.

Zomato Exits, Swiggy Gains Ground

Zomato’s decision to pull back from its 10-15 minute delivery model—citing infrastructure limitations and inconsistent user experiences—has opened the door for Swiggy to accelerate Bolt’s growth without direct competition in the segment. While Zomato redirects focus toward other areas, Swiggy is leveraging the moment to dominate the quick-meal space with scale and speed.

Meanwhile, Swiggy Bolt continues to be heavily promoted within the Swiggy app, occupying prime visibility in the food delivery section, making it easy for users to spot restaurants offering 10-minute deliveries. This mirrors strategies previously used by competitors but is now giving Swiggy a first-mover advantage in this newly vacated niche.

Growth Backed by Strong User Retention

Swiggy’s internal data shows that customers using Bolt are more likely to return, with retention rates between 4% and 6% higher than average. Bolt isn’t just a convenience feature—it’s emerging as a key driver of user engagement and platform loyalty.

For restaurants, Bolt represents an opportunity to tap into a fast-moving segment with predictable demand and streamlined logistics. With pre-selected, easy-to-prepare dishes, kitchens can serve more customers in less time, translating to higher revenue and reduced operational stress.

A Future-Oriented Bet on India’s Changing Habits

Swiggy’s expansion of Bolt is a clear bet on the future of food delivery in India. As consumer preferences shift toward immediacy and convenience, the company is aligning its tech infrastructure, logistics, and partner networks to meet demand in real time.

With a footprint now spanning over 500 cities and a growing customer base hooked on instant meals, Swiggy Bolt is poised to redefine expectations for food delivery in India—faster, safer, and smarter than ever before.