Strike or No Strike? Zomato & Swiggy Shatter New Year’s Eve Records Amid Worker Protests

'Unaffected by strike calls': Zomato, Swiggy log record orders on New Year's Eve

As the clock struck midnight on December 31st, 2025, a tale of two Indias unfolded. On one side, thousands of delivery workers were on a nationwide strike, protesting for basic job security and livable wages. On the other, millions of revellers were busy celebrating, their parties fueled by a record-breaking avalanche of food orders from Zomato and Swiggy .

The result? A jaw-dropping display of consumer demand that seemingly steamrolled right over the workers’ strike calls, logging what both platforms are calling their busiest New Year’s Eve ever .

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A Record-Breaking Night for Food Delivery

The term “unprecedented” is often overused, but for Zomato and Swiggy’s 2025 New Year’s Eve, it’s the only word that fits. The platforms combined to process a staggering 75 lakh (7.5 million) orders in a single night . This isn’t just a holiday bump; it’s a monumental leap that cements their role as the backbone of modern Indian celebrations.

This performance is even more significant given the duopoly’s current market positions. As of 2025, Zomato commands a market share of roughly 57%, while Swiggy holds the remaining 43% . Their ability to execute such a massive logistical operation on their biggest night of the year, despite external pressures, speaks volumes about their operational scale and consumer dependence on their services.

The Gig Worker Strike That (Mostly) Wasn’t

The backdrop to this consumerist triumph was a nationwide strike called by multiple gig and platform worker unions on December 31st . The strike had clear and just demands: an end to exploitative algorithms, better safety measures, and a call for a national policy that grants them basic social security and labour rights .

Reports indicated that around 1.7 lakh delivery workers were expected to participate . However, the platforms claimed their operations remained “unaffected” or saw only “minimal impact” from the strike calls . This apparent disconnect suggests a few possibilities: the platforms may have offered last-minute incentives to keep workers online, or the sheer volume of orders may have simply overwhelmed the strike’s logistical impact, leaving many consumers unaware of the protest happening in the streets.

For a deeper look at the challenges facing the gig economy, check out our analysis on [INTERNAL_LINK:gig-economy-challenges].

What’s on the Menu? India’s New Year’s Eve Feast

While the platforms celebrated their logistical victory, the real story for many is on the plate. The data reveals a fascinating snapshot of India’s culinary preferences as it welcomed 2026.

As predicted, the undisputed king of Indian food delivery, biryani, reigned supreme once again. Swiggy alone reported a phenomenal 2.18 lakh biryani orders

But biryani wasn’t alone on the victory podium. The New Year’s Eve feast was a classic blend of comfort and celebration:

  • Pizzas: A close second, with reports of over 2 lakh pizzas ordered on Swiggy alone .
  • Burgers: A perennial favourite for quick and satisfying party food .
  • Butter Chicken: The creamy, rich classic remained a top choice for a festive main course .
  • Desserts: Traditional sweets like Rasmalai and Gulab Jamun provided the perfect sweet ending to the night .

To understand more about these trends, it’s worth noting that Swiggy even ran live updates on its social media, celebrating stats like “1336 biryani orders per minute” . This level of real-time engagement shows how deeply intertwined these platforms are with the event itself.

Beyond the Food: Dining Out and the Bigger Picture

The surge wasn’t limited to home deliveries. Both Zomato and Swiggy have heavily invested in their dine-out and reservations platforms. Reports suggest a significant spike in restaurant bookings for New Year’s Eve as well, indicating a dual-pronged celebration strategy for many Indians—partying at home with delivery and partying out at a booked table .

This holistic approach to the food ecosystem is a key part of their long-term strategy. For more on how these platforms are expanding, see our coverage on [INTERNAL_LINK:zomato-swiggy-expansion-strategy].

From a macroeconomic perspective, this record night is a powerful indicator of the health and growth of India’s online food delivery market, which is projected to expand at a CAGR of 28.8% from 2025 to 2029 . The consumer’s willingness to spend on convenience, even on a night marred by social unrest for the workers, highlights the deeply entrenched nature of these services in our daily lives.

Conclusion: A Feast Built on a Fault Line

The story of Zomato and Swiggy’s record-shattering New Year’s Eve is one of immense commercial success and deep social complexity. On the surface, it’s a celebration of choice, convenience, and the simple joy of a good meal. Millions of orders of biryani, pizza, and butter chicken signify a nation in a celebratory mood.

Yet, this feast was built on a system that its own workforce is protesting against. The apparent ineffectiveness of the strike in halting the platforms’ operations raises uncomfortable questions about worker agency, platform power, and the true cost of our on-demand convenience. As we look forward to 2026, the challenge for these industry giants won’t just be to break more records, but to build a more equitable and sustainable model for everyone in their ecosystem—from the end consumer to the rider on the ground.

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