Zomato Wants You To Get Out Of Your Home As New 'District' App Will Offer Movie & Event Tickets: Here's How It Works

Zomato CEO Deepinder Goyal confirmed that the District app will also offer services such as shopping and staycations, marking an aggressive foray into the lifestyle sector.

Zomato, the delivery aggregator that posted a net profit of Rs 253 crore in the April-June quarter, has announced the launch of a new app named 'District,' aiming to consolidate various "going-out" services like dining, movie ticketing, and event booking. This strategic move marks a significant expansion beyond its core delivery offerings.

In a letter to shareholders, CEO Deepinder Goyal introduced 'District,' which will integrate services such as dining out, sports ticketing, live performances, shopping, and staycations into one platform. This initiative underscores Zomato's ambition to enhance its presence in the lifestyle sector.

“Today, Zomato and Blinkit are our two large consumer businesses, serving customers' needs at home. However, we also have one of India’s largest 'going-out' businesses, helping our customers discover restaurants for dining out,” Goyal stated.

When Will Zomato District App Launch?

An official rollout date for the District app is yet to be announced.

Zomato's Challenge To BookMyShow, Other Apps

The business segment, which Goyal reported to be operating with an annualised Gross Order Value (GOV) exceeding $500 million, is already profitable. “We believe that there is an opportunity to further expand our going-out offering, building on top of our dining-out business. Additional use cases for customers in the going-out space include movies, sports ticketing, live performances, shopping, staycations, some of which we have already launched, or are building as we speak,” Goyal added.

This move positions Zomato in direct competition with apps like BookMyShow, which holds a substantial share of India's online movie-ticket booking market. Goyal expressed confidence in 'District,' calling it a potential game-changer for lifestyle services.

Zomato's financial performance has been robust, with net profit soaring to Rs 253 crore in the June quarter and revenue rising 74 percent to Rs 4,206 crore. This growth comes amid high inflation and reduced demand impacting the broader e-commerce sector.

The company’s going-out segment, which includes the dining-out vertical in India and the UAE and the ticketing service Zomato Live, saw its gross order value surge by 105 per cent to Rs 1,268 crore in the June quarter. Adjusted revenue more than doubled to Rs 95 crore, while adjusted EBITDA for the quarter increased by 233 per cent to Rs 10 crore.

Zomato's interest in expanding its going-out business was highlighted in June when it confirmed discussions to acquire Paytm’s movie-ticketing and events arm, a deal potentially valued between Rs 1,500 crore and Rs 2,000 crore. This acquisition could significantly bolster Zomato’s presence in the going-out sector.