The Indian food-tech industry has changed dramatically over the last decade. What started as a simple platform for discovering restaurants has grown into a much larger digital ecosystem covering food delivery, quick commerce, restaurant supplies, dining and entertainment.
Zomato has played an important role in this transformation. Through acquisitions, investments and strategic expansion, the company has added new capabilities and entered businesses beyond traditional food delivery.
Interestingly, the company is now known as Eternal Limited, while Zomato continues to operate as its food-delivery brand. Eternal’s current business portfolio includes Zomato, Blinkit, Hyperpure and District.
So, which companies has Zomato acquired over the years? Let’s take a look at the major acquisitions and understand how they contributed to the company’s growth.
What is Zomato?
Zomato was founded in 2008 by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah. The company initially began as a restaurant discovery platform and was earlier known as FoodieBay.
Over the years, Zomato expanded from restaurant discovery into food delivery and several related businesses. Its growth strategy included developing technology internally as well as acquiring companies that could strengthen its restaurant database, technology, logistics and delivery capabilities.
Zomato became a publicly listed company in 2021 after a major IPO. Its expansion continued through acquisitions and investments in food delivery, logistics, quick commerce and entertainment.
In 2022, Zomato acquired Blinkit, giving the company a strong position in India’s rapidly growing quick-commerce market. The deal was valued at approximately $568 million.
In 2024, Zomato also acquired Paytm’s movie and events ticketing businesses, helping build what became its District platform.
Today, these businesses operate under the broader Eternal Limited umbrella.pandemic.
Companies acquired by Zomato :
1. Menu Mania
Menu Mania was a restaurant-discovery platform based in New Zealand. It focused on helping users discover local restaurants, browse menus and share reviews and recommendations.
Zomato acquired Menu Mania in 2014 for an undisclosed amount as part of its international expansion strategy.
The acquisition helped Zomato strengthen its restaurant-discovery capabilities while expanding its presence in the international market.
2. Urbanspoon
Urbanspoon was a popular restaurant-discovery application founded in the United States.
The platform helped users discover restaurants, read reviews and make dining decisions. It operated across markets including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Ireland and New Zealand.
In 2015, Zomato acquired Urbanspoon for approximately $55 million.
The acquisition gave Zomato access to Urbanspoon’s technology, restaurant data and international presence and supported its expansion outside India.
3. MapleGraph Solutions
MapleGraph Solutions was an Indian technology company founded by Arun Tangri and Varun Tangri.
The company specialised in cloud-based and mobile-focused technology solutions. Zomato acquired MapleGraph in 2014.
The acquisition was strategically important because technology has always been central to Zomato’s restaurant-management and food-delivery operations.
4. Runnr
Runnr was a hyperlocal logistics and delivery startup founded in 2015.
The company focused on providing delivery and logistics services to businesses and merchants.
In 2017, Zomato acquired Runnr. The financial details of the acquisition were not publicly disclosed.
The deal helped Zomato strengthen its delivery infrastructure at a time when India’s online food-delivery market was becoming increasingly competitive.
5. Uber Eats India
One of Zomato’s most important acquisitions came in 2020, when it acquired Uber Eats’ India business.
The transaction was structured as an all-stock deal, with Uber receiving a 9.99% stake in Zomato. Uber Eats subsequently discontinued its standalone food-delivery operations in India, while its users and restaurant partners moved to Zomato.
This acquisition was strategically significant because it strengthened Zomato’s position in India’s food-delivery market and reduced one of its major competitors.
The original article’s earlier figure of $206 million should therefore be removed. The transaction was an all-stock deal rather than a straightforward cash acquisition.
6. Lunchtime
Lunchtime was a restaurant guide platform based in the Czech Republic.
The service helped users discover restaurants, pubs and cafés and provided information about local dining options.
Zomato acquired Lunchtime in 2014 for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition formed part of Zomato’s broader international expansion strategy and helped the company establish a presence in the Czech market.
7. Obedovat
Obedovat was an online restaurant guide based in Slovakia.
The platform helped users discover local restaurants and dining options.
Zomato acquired Obedovat in 2014. The acquisition was reported at approximately $3.25 million.
The deal helped Zomato expand its restaurant-discovery network into Slovakia.
8. TongueStun
TongueStun was an Indian corporate catering platform founded by Manjunath Ramakrishnan.
The business focused on corporate catering and served companies looking for organised food and catering solutions.
In 2018, Zomato acquired TongueStun for approximately $18 million.
The acquisition allowed Zomato to expand beyond conventional restaurant food delivery and enter the corporate catering segment.
9. Sparse Labs
Sparse Labs was a logistics technology startup founded in 2014.
The company worked on technology for hyperlocal delivery and logistics operations.
Zomato acquired Sparse Labs in 2016 for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition strengthened Zomato’s technology and logistics capabilities at a time when efficient last-mile delivery was becoming increasingly important for online food businesses.
10. Cibando
Cibando was an Italian restaurant-discovery platform.
The service helped users discover restaurants and dining destinations through its mobile platform.
Zomato acquired Cibando in 2014 for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition was part of Zomato’s international expansion and helped the company strengthen its presence in the Italian restaurant-discovery market.
11. Gastronauci
Gastronauci was a restaurant-discovery platform based in Poland.
It helped users find restaurants and explore dining options in the Polish market.
Zomato acquired Gastronauci in 2014 as part of its international expansion strategy.
The acquisition allowed Zomato to expand its restaurant database and reach into another European market.
12. NexTable
NexTable was a cloud-based restaurant reservation and table-management platform.
The technology helped restaurants manage table reservations and allowed customers to book tables online.
Zomato acquired NexTable in 2015 for an undisclosed amount.
The technology was subsequently associated with Zomato’s restaurant reservation services.
13. Mekanist
Mekanist was a Turkey-based restaurant and lifestyle discovery platform.
The platform helped users discover restaurants, cafés, pubs and other places.
Zomato acquired Mekanist in 2015 for an undisclosed amount.
The acquisition supported Zomato’s international expansion and gave it access to the Turkish market.
14. Feeding India
One important acquisition missing from many older lists of Zomato acquisitions is Feeding India.
Zomato acquired Feeding India in 2019. Feeding India is focused on addressing hunger and malnutrition through food-related initiatives.
The acquisition was different from Zomato’s technology-focused deals because it strengthened the company’s social-impact efforts.
Over time, Feeding India became an important part of Zomato’s initiatives around food security and nutrition.
15. Blinkit
The acquisition of Blinkit is arguably one of the most important deals in Zomato’s history.
Blinkit was originally founded as Grofers and later rebranded as Blinkit. It operates in the quick-commerce sector, delivering groceries, household essentials and other products to customers through a network of dark stores.
In 2022, Zomato acquired Blinkit for approximately $568 million in an all-stock transaction.
The deal represented a major shift in Zomato’s strategy.
Instead of focusing only on restaurant food delivery, the company gained a significant position in India’s fast-growing quick-commerce market.
By 2026, Blinkit had become one of the most important businesses within the broader Eternal group. Eternal’s FY26 results show the growing scale of its quick-commerce operations.
16. Paytm’s Entertainment and Ticketing Businesses
Zomato made another major expansion move in 2024 when it agreed to acquire Paytm’s movie and events ticketing businesses.
The transaction covered TicketNew, which handled movie ticketing, and Insider, which focused on live events.
The deal was valued at approximately $244.2 million. Around 280 employees were also expected to transition as part of the transaction.
The acquired businesses became part of Zomato’s wider entertainment strategy and were subsequently integrated into District.
District expanded Zomato’s presence beyond food and dining into movies, live events and other entertainment experiences.
Zomato’s Acquisition Strategy Has Changed
Looking at Zomato’s acquisition history shows how dramatically the company’s strategy has evolved.
The earlier acquisitions were largely focused on:
- Restaurant discovery
- Restaurant data
- Technology
- Logistics
- International expansion
Later acquisitions moved into larger consumer businesses:
- Food delivery through Uber Eats India
- Corporate catering through TongueStun
- Quick commerce through Blinkit
- Social impact through Feeding India
- Entertainment and ticketing through Paytm’s businesses
This shows that Zomato’s growth strategy has gradually moved from being a restaurant-discovery platform to building a broader consumer internet ecosystem.
Zomato in 2026: From Food Delivery to Eternal
There is an important terminology change readers should know in 2026.
Zomato Limited is now Eternal Limited.
However, Zomato itself has not disappeared. Zomato continues to operate as the company’s food-delivery brand.
Eternal’s major businesses now include:
- Zomato – Food delivery and restaurant-related services
- Blinkit – Quick commerce and grocery delivery
- Hyperpure – B2B food and restaurant supplies
- District – Dining, movies, events and entertainment
The company’s FY26 communication highlights these businesses as the core parts of the Eternal ecosystem.
This is why older articles that simply describe Zomato as a food-delivery company do not fully explain its position in 2026.
Why Does Zomato Acquire Companies?
Zomato’s acquisitions have generally served several strategic purposes.
1. Expanding into new markets
Acquisitions such as Urbanspoon, Cibando, Gastronauci, Lunchtime and Mekanist helped Zomato enter international markets and build a larger restaurant-discovery network.
2. Improving technology
Companies such as MapleGraph and Sparse Labs brought technology and logistics capabilities that could support Zomato’s core platform.
3. Strengthening food delivery
The Runnr acquisition strengthened delivery capabilities, while the Uber Eats India deal significantly expanded Zomato’s position in India’s food-delivery market.
4. Entering new businesses
Blinkit gave Zomato a major presence in quick commerce, while the Paytm entertainment acquisition helped the company expand into movies and live events.
5. Building a larger consumer ecosystem
The company’s current strategy is not limited to delivering restaurant meals. Zomato, Blinkit, Hyperpure and District together cover multiple parts of consumers’ everyday food, shopping, dining and entertainment needs.
Conclusion
Zomato’s acquisition journey is a reflection of how India’s digital economy has evolved.
The company started with restaurant discovery, moved into food delivery, strengthened its logistics and technology capabilities, and later expanded into quick commerce and entertainment.
Some of its most notable acquisitions include Urbanspoon, Runnr, Uber Eats India, TongueStun, Feeding India, Blinkit and Paytm’s entertainment ticketing businesses.
The biggest transformation, however, has happened at the corporate level. Zomato Limited is now Eternal Limited, with Zomato continuing as its food-delivery business alongside Blinkit, Hyperpure and District.
As of 2026, the story is therefore no longer just about the companies acquired by Zomato. It is about how those acquisitions helped build a much broader technology and consumer-business ecosystem.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded Zomato?
Zomato was founded in 2008 by Deepinder Goyal and Pankaj Chaddah.
What are some major companies acquired by Zomato?
Some major acquisitions include Urbanspoon, Runnr, Uber Eats India, TongueStun, Feeding India, Blinkit and Paytm’s entertainment and ticketing businesses.
When did Zomato acquire Blinkit?
Zomato acquired Blinkit in 2022 in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $568 million.
Did Zomato acquire Uber Eats in India?
Yes. Zomato acquired Uber Eats’ India business in 2020 through an all-stock transaction. Uber received a 9.99% stake in Zomato as part of the deal.
Did Zomato acquire Paytm’s ticketing business?
Yes. In 2024, Zomato agreed to acquire Paytm’s movie and events ticketing businesses, including TicketNew and Insider, in a deal valued at approximately $244.2 million. These businesses were subsequently integrated into the District platform.
Is Zomato still the name of the company in 2026?
The corporate parent is now Eternal Limited, formerly Zomato Limited. However, Zomato remains the company’s food-delivery brand.
Who is the CEO of Eternal in 2026?
Albinder Dhindsa became CEO of Eternal in 2026, while Deepinder Goyal moved out of the CEO role. The company’s current structure continues to include Zomato, Blinkit, Hyperpure and District.
