Online travel aggregator ixigo is deepening its presence in the train food delivery segment by increasing its stake in Zoop Web Services, a platform known for delivering meals on trains. In a recent exchange filing, ixigo announced that it will acquire an additional 11% stake in Zoop through a secondary share purchase worth INR 3.25 crore. This strategic acquisition will involve purchasing 1,717 shares from Zoop’s founders, Puneet Sharma and Manoj Kumar Singh. The transaction is expected to be completed by September 30, 2025.
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Strengthening Footprint in Train Food Delivery
This move highlights ixigo’s commitment to expanding its footprint in the rapidly growing travel tech and train catering space. With this latest acquisition, ixigo further consolidates its influence in the train travel ecosystem, particularly in the food delivery segment—a sector that continues to gain traction as Indian railway passengers seek more convenience and variety during their journeys.
ixigo had earlier acquired a 51% majority stake in Zoop in October 2024. At the time, the company also stated that it had the option to purchase the remaining equity in the food tech startup, subject to certain performance milestones and conditions being met.
Zoop: A Trusted Name in Train Food Delivery
Founded in 2014, Zoop Web Services is an IRCTC-authorised food delivery platform that brings fresh meals from quality restaurants directly to train passengers. It currently operates at 192 railway stations across India and collaborates with around 400 verified restaurant partners. The platform offers a seamless experience by allowing passengers to pre-order meals and have them delivered to their seats at designated stations, enhancing comfort and reliability during train travel.
The partnership with IRCTC has helped Zoop gain credibility and customer trust, making it a preferred food delivery option for train travelers across the country.
ixigo’s ‘Food on Train’ Integration
Following its initial investment in Zoop, ixigo integrated Zoop’s services into its platform under the ‘Food on Train’ feature. This integration allows users of the ixigo app to order food while booking or managing their train journeys. The service not only adds value to ixigo’s offerings but also helps improve the overall train travel experience, aligning with the company’s broader vision of becoming a one-stop platform for Indian travelers.
Strategic Outlook
The latest stake increase in Zoop reaffirms ixigo’s long-term strategy to build an ecosystem of services around train travel—one of the most widely used modes of transport in India. With increasing demand for convenient and hygienic food options on trains, platforms like Zoop stand to benefit significantly. ixigo’s continued investment will likely help scale Zoop’s operations further, expand its restaurant network, and enhance customer satisfaction through better service quality and delivery efficiency.
As the Indian travel and food tech sectors continue to evolve, ixigo’s proactive moves in acquiring and nurturing complementary services like Zoop position it well for future growth and diversification.
Keywords: ixigo, Zoop, train food delivery, IRCTC, Food on Train, train meals, travel aggregator, secondary share purchase, Puneet Sharma, Manoj Kumar Singh, railway catering, food delivery in trains, travel tech India, Zoop Web Services
