Mumbai: Marking its foray into the high-use dining out category, Swiggy India on Saturday announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement with Times Internet to acquire its dining out and restaurant tech platform, Dineout. Its founders Ankit Mehrotra, Nikhil Bakshi, Sahil Jain and Vivek Kapoor will join Swiggy once the acquisition is completed, while Dineout will continue to operate as an independent app, the food aggregator said in a statement.
Announcing the development on Saturday on LinkedIn, Swiggy India posted: "It's a big day for #Swiggy and we're happy to announce that we have acquired #Dineout - India's leading dining out and restaurant tech platform."
Dineout brings with it a network of over 50,000 restaurant partners along with a 'proven technology' and 'invaluable experience' that Swiggy can benefit from.
“Dineout is a well-loved brand that enjoys loyalty from both consumers and restaurants. Times Internet and the founding team should be credited for the transformational impact they have brought about in the dining out experience through their products, technology and vast selection of restaurant partners,” said Swiggy CEO Sriharsha Majety. “The acquisition will allow Swiggy to explore synergies and offer new experiences in a high-use category.”
The acquisition will enable the food aggregator to cater to every food occasion by capitalising on Dineout’s assets and position in the dining out space, the statement said. "Swiggy will double down on the synergies with Dineout’s offerings, including dining out table reservations and events. In time, restaurant partners will be able to reach more customers and grow their business," it added.
“At Dineout, we always wanted to revolutionise the restaurant industry and this acquisition is an accelerating step towards the same goal. We strongly feel that with Swiggy’s deep understanding of the ecosystem and our shared passion for a superior consumer and restaurant experience, our joint forces will help provide a holistic platform in this industry,” said Dineout co-founder & CEO Ankit Mehrotra.
Times Internet vice chairman Satyan Gajwani added, “We are proud of the positive impact that Dineout has created for consumers and restaurants, helping streamline and improve the eating out experience. Swiggy + Dineout is a powerful combination, and we are excited to join forces with Swiggy as we continue to look for ways to delight customers.”
In the last 20 months, Swiggy has strengthened its food delivery business, expanded Instamart, its quick commerce grocery delivery to 28 cities, and Genie, its pick up and drop service to 68 cities.