Swiggy launches ‘Swiggy Seal’ in 650 cities – what does it mean for customers?

Online food aggregator and delivery platform Swiggy has launched a new initiative called ‘Swiggy Seal’ for customers across 650 Indian cities, according to a PTI report. The objective is to raise food quality standards and hygiene practices among the company’s partner restaurants, he added.

The initiative started in Pune and will be gradually expanded to other cities in November, according to the report.

“Since the launch of the program two weeks ago, partner restaurants have shown great interest, and hundreds of requests for hygiene audits have already been received. If any concern arises about a restaurant holding the Seal, Swiggy will thoroughly review the feedback and may revoke the seal if the restaurant fails to maintain the set standards,” Swiggy said in a statement.

So what does this mean for customers and what can you expect?

The ‘Swiggy Seal’ emblem

Restaurant menu pages on the Swiggy app will be given a ‘Swiggy Seal’ to highlight partners with a “proven track record of serving high-quality, hygienic meals in quality packaging”.

The company also said it will leverage its base of 7 million verified customers to collect reviews of a restaurant over the past six months to gather insights.

“The Swiggy Seal program aims to elevate hygiene practices in restaurants. It offers restaurant partners comprehensive insights and practical support to ensure delivery of hygienic, well-cooked food in high-quality packaging,” Swiggy added.

Insights to improve practices

Swiggy said it will share detailed reviews and feedback from verified customers with its restaurant partners, which they can use to improve practices and service.

The focus will be on “key areas” such as optimal cooking, contamination prevention and packaging quality. “The information will allow restaurants to identify areas for improvement and implement effective hygiene practices,” he added.

In addition to customer reviews, Swiggy also plans to work with agencies like Equinox and Eurofins, which are accredited by the Food Safety Standards and Authority of India (FSSAI), to better offer its restaurant partners access to professional hygiene audits at exclusive prices.