After receiving backlash over having two uniforms for the vegetarian fleet and non-vegetarian fleet, Zomato said on Wednesday that orders booked through its vegetarian mode will be delivered in the red uniform – its existing one. According to Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal, rider's "physical safety" was important for the company, after social media users raised concerns over possible discrimination Zomato riders delivering non-veg food may face following the introduction of green uniform for the pure veg mode.
"While we are going to continue to have a fleet for vegetarians, we have decided to remove the on-ground segregation of this fleet on the ground using the colour green. All our riders — both our regular fleet, and our fleet for vegetarians, will wear the colour red," Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal said.
The Zomato CEO explained that the pure veg fleet will not be identifiable on the ground based on its uniform. "This will ensure that our red uniform delivery partners are not incorrectly associated with non-veg food, and blocked by any RWAs or societies during any special days… our rider’s physical safety is of paramount importance to us," Goyal said.
Zomato's pure veg mode receives flak
The food delivery company was at the receiving end after it announced the launch of "pure veg" mode for users to order food from the restaurants that serve only vegetarian food. Furthermore, the company also said that the pure veg fleet will have a separate green uniform.
However, social media users questioned the move, saying a rider delivering non-vegetarian food may be discriminated. Some users also said that segregating Zomato's riders based on the colour of their uniforms may lead to some residential societies bar the entry of those delivering non-veg food.
