Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal raised objections to a recent viral Reddit post alleging “internal chaos” in his company, dismissing the claims as “utter nonsense”.
Zomato boss dismisses Redditor's claims
Deepinder Goyal has firmly rejected the recent Reddit claims, stating that Zomato is neither experiencing losses nor compelling staff to place orders on its platform.
Calling the rumours “utter nonsense,” he emphasized, “We’re not losing market share, nor will we ever force our employees to order on Zomato.”
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to choice: “Freedom of choice is something we stand for vehemently.”
Although he finds it embarrassing to address such baseless speculation, Goyal felt compelled to speak out after numerous concerned messages on social media. “It’s embarrassing to even clarify this—but I’m doing it because many people reached out to me with their concerns,” he concluded.
A viral Reddit post by user “Spiritual-Mode-5374” in the “StartUpIndia” community painted a dire picture of Zomato’s internal dynamics, claiming the company has gone “off the rails.” According to the post, an internal town hall allegedly admitted that Zomato is ceding significant market share to Zepto Cafe and Swiggy, prompting panicked mandates—one requiring employees to place at least seven orders a month through Zomato, with usage strictly monitored and competitor orders prohibited on office premises.
The Redditor also alleged that CEO Rakesh Ranjan was ousted after urging staff to “stay focused” and “get back on track,” a report Zomato has publicly refuted. In an exchange filing, the company explained that leadership reshuffles at Eternal Group are routine measures aimed at “optimizing organizational effectiveness.”
The post went on to describe a toxic work culture rife with office politics, micromanagement, and public shaming for minor lapses—painting platform fees as the sole profit driver and long-term strategy as an afterthought. It accused Zomato of underpaying and overworking its delivery partners—sometimes by as much as half of competitor rates—leading many riders to quit or jump ship.
Restaurant partners were not spared criticism: the Redditor claimed they’re forced into costly ad spends merely to stay visible, with little performance data or basic support, and are relentlessly pressed to meet targets. According to the post, this confluence of frustrated customers, riders, and restaurant partners has created a vicious cycle that, while Zomato may appear polished externally, is “falling apart” from within.
