In response to a wave of feedback, Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal has announced a reversal of the company’s plans to introduce green uniforms for its proposed “Pure Veg” branded fleet of delivery services. Instead, all Zomato riders will continue to wear the traditional red uniform.

Goyal clarified the decision through a post on the social media platform X, stating, “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.”

The initial announcement of the “Pure Veg Fleet” and the introduction of a “veg mode” to cater to vegetarian dietary preferences had garnered attention. However, concerns arose regarding the potential implications of segregating delivery partners based on food preferences.

Critics highlighted the possibility of the green uniforms leading to the identification and targeting of non-vegetarian eaters in housing societies, potentially affecting privacy and safety. Goyal acknowledged these concerns, emphasizing the importance of rider safety and customer privacy.

“We now realize that even some of our customers could get into trouble with their landlords, and that would not be nice if that happened because of us,” Goyal stated.

The decision to revert to the red uniform for all riders reflects Zomato’s responsiveness to user feedback and its commitment to addressing unintended consequences. Goyal expressed gratitude for the dialogue surrounding the company’s initiatives, stating, “Thanks everyone for talking about this last night. You made us understand the unintended consequences of this rollout.”