Zomato launches 'pure veg mode' in sharp deviation from earlier stance, Deepinder Goyal delivers orders

livemint.com:

Zomato co-founder and CEO Deepinder Goyal on 19 March announced the launch of a 'Pure Veg Mode' along with a 'Pure Veg Fleet' for customers having pure vegetarian dietary preferences. Citing the reason for the launch of ‘Pure Veg Mode’ and ‘Pure Veg Fleet’, Goyal said that it was done based on the feedback from vegetarian customers.

Earlier in 2019, Zomato had said that it is impossible to ensure that vegetarian and non-vegetarian preferences are factored into delivery logistics. The firm clarified a bunch of executive in West Bengal's Howrah went on an indefinite strike claiming that the company was forcing them to deliver beef and pork against their will.

This development elicited a wide variety of responses on Twitter, as some asked if Zomato would still stand by its ‘Food has no religion’ claim. ALSO READ: Zomato strike: Impossible to factor veg, non-veg preferences in delivery says firm Taking to X, Goyal wrote, "India has the largest percentage of vegetarians in the world, and one of the most important feedback we’ve gotten from them is that they are very particular about how their food is cooked, and how their food is handled." He further added, "To solve for their dietary preferences, we are today, launching a “Pure Veg Mode" along with a “Pure Veg Fleet" on Zomato, for customers who have a 100% vegetarian dietary preference." Apart from this, Goyal mentioned that the 'Pure Veg Mode' would consist of a curation of restaurants that serve only pure vegetarian food.

“Our dedicated Pure Veg Fleet will only serve orders from these pure veg restaurants. This means that a non-veg meal, or even a veg meal served by a non-veg restaurant will never go inside the green delivery box meant for our Pure Veg Fleet." However, he