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Time of India
22-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Blinkit, Zepto and other q-comm players throw light on dark stores
New Delhi: Quick-commerce platforms such as Bigbasket , Blinkit , Swiggy Instamart and Zepto are either opening up their dark stores to walk-in customers or stepping up 'leadership audits' with surprise CXO-level visits amid rising concerns over hygiene and storage standards, and tighter regulatory scrutiny. The platforms are also redesigning storage spaces in their dark stores and writing to food companies to "ensure heightened compliance" on top of existing checks by their audit teams, industry executives said. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Healthcare Operations Management others Data Science Finance MBA Digital Marketing Data Science Data Analytics Artificial Intelligence Management healthcare Degree PGDM Project Management CXO Public Policy Product Management Cybersecurity Technology Leadership Others MCA Design Thinking Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis in Healthcare Financial Management & Investing Strategic Management in Healthcare Process Design & Analysis Duration: 12 Weeks Indian School of Business Certificate Program in Healthcare Management Starts on Jun 13, 2024 Get Details Dark stores are warehouses in neighbourhood stores that partner with quick-commerce platforms for instant delivery to customers' doorsteps. "We are keeping our dark stores open, so customers are free to visit any dark store anytime," Tata Group-backed Bigbasket's cofounder Vipul Parekh told ET. "Our customer service team will share the location with them and the customer can land up at any dark store and see for themselves." Live Events Bigger rivals Swiggy Instamart, Zomato-owned Blinkit and Zepto are stepping up leadership audits or surprise checks of dark stores, people aware of the developments said. "These are unscheduled checks at the dark stores with a lot more frequency now, so that any lapses which may have been overlooked during routine audits can be fixed immediately," a senior executive at one of the platforms said. The developments come on the back of authorities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of Maharashtra and the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) reporting lapses in hygiene and storage after surprise inspections and audits at dark stores that have proliferated across both metros and smaller markets. Multiple packaged foods makers have also been raising concerns and writing to the platforms about hygiene and storage lapses at warehouses. "We have walk-throughs in the dark stores," said an executive at a large packaged foods company, requesting not to be identified. "While this has been a regular practice at some of the platforms for some time now, there is increased emphasis on hygiene." Blinkit and Zepto said they maintain strict compliance with FSSAI protocols and rigorous quality controls at the warehouses. A Zepto spokesperson said the platform continuously strengthens its internal processes. "We conduct regular audits, staff training, and operational checks to ensure high hygiene and product freshness standards," she added. A Blinkit spokesperson said it does not dispatch "products with less than 30% of their shelf life, or under 45 days remaining, whichever is higher," to consumers. "To further reinforce food safety, we conduct regular training for food handlers at our stores and through FSSAI-empanelled agencies," the person said. Swiggy Instamart did not respond to an email query until press time on Tuesday. "After incidents of lapses came out, we received reassurances on storage and handling not just from the platforms that were found to be lapse, but even others," a senior executive at a frozen snacks maker said on condition of anonymity. "This is particularly important for categories such as frozen foods because, ultimately, the consumer identifies with the brand if the delivery experience is unpleasant, not the platform." Last month, the Maharashtra FDA had suspended the food business licence of a dark store operated by Zepto, alleging safety and hygiene violations such as fungal contamination and unsanitary storage conditions. Last year, the food safety commissioner in Hyderabad reported "disorganised, unhygienic and dusty" storage racks at a Blinkit store. Quick-commerce is the fastest-growing channel for companies making daily essentials, staples and premium grocery products that reported anywhere between 50% to 100% growth on the platforms in FY25, though on a smaller base. Many companies including ITC , Tata Consumer Products , Nestle and Marico have been introducing packs only to sell on quick commerce channels. On Monday, Blinkit's parent Eternal reported the latter's revenue at Rs 2,400 crore for the April-June quarter, ahead of its food delivery platform Zomato's revenue of Rs 2,261 crore.
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Business Standard
11-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Swiggy, Blinkit, Zepto rate users and delivery workers: Here's how it works
Georgie Koithara Md Kaifee Alam New Delhi Listen to This Article 'Everyone is being ranked — you, me, everyone,' says Rakesh Yadav (name changed), a Swiggy customer chat support executive. 'Customers are ranked based on the frequency of orders and the number of returns or refunds they initiate. Delivery partners are ranked on their number and efficiency of deliveries.' Yadav is referring to the internal systems at quick-commerce platforms like Swiggy, the Zomato-owned Blinkit and Zepto, which classify customers and delivery workers in ways that affect the quality of service users receive and the benefits or incentives delivery personnel get. Swiggy, for instance, groups its customers into
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Business Standard
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Amazon launches 10-minute delivery in Delhi, expands quick commerce play
Amazon has rolled out its 10-minute delivery service, Amazon Now, in New Delhi—marking a major step forward in its quick commerce ambitions. The launch comes after a successful pilot in three Bengaluru pin codes last month, according to a report by Bloomberg. Amazon takes on Blinkit, Instamart, and Zepto With this move, Amazon enters direct competition with India's leading quick commerce players —Zomato-owned Blinkit, Swiggy's Instamart, and Zepto—who currently dominate the sub-15-minute delivery market. These platforms offer a wide range of essentials, from groceries and fresh produce to gadgets and cosmetics. Traditionally known for same-day or next-day deliveries, Amazon's foray into 10-minute logistics reflects a larger pivot to meet shifting consumer expectations and tap into the growing demand for near-instant service among urban shoppers. Service goes live in western Delhi, national rollout expected The company officially launched Amazon Now in Bengaluru in June and is now expanding it to a large section of western Delhi. A full-scale launch across the capital is expected soon. Amazon Now promises 10-minute delivery for a range of daily essentials, including groceries, snacks, meat, personal care products, and fresh produce—mirroring the offerings of its quick commerce rivals. ₹2,000 crore investment to expand dark store network Amazon aims to operate up to 300 dark stores across Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Mumbai by the end of 2025, according to The Economic Times. Rival Flipkart Minutes is targeting 800 such stores across India. Quick commerce seen as key to India growth strategy The launch of Amazon Now is part of the company's broader push in India, where it has already invested over $11 billion since 2013. In addition to its quick commerce efforts, Amazon recently opened five new fulfilment centres to support faster delivery in Tier-II and Tier-III cities.
India.com
08-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
Big move Ratan Tata's Tata Group as Deepika Bhan gets major role at BigBasket, set to replace TCS COO due to...
(File) In a major leadership reshuffle at the Tata Group, Deepika Khattar Bhan, president-packaged foods at Tata Consumer Products, is set to replace Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) chief operating officer (COO) Aarthi Subramanian, on the board of BigBasket. Subramanian, who is also an executive director at TCS, is stepping down from the BigBasket board to focus on her responsibilities at India's largest IT services exporter, Moneycontrol reported. Who is Deepika Bhan? Deepika Bhan is a well-known name in the corporate world, boasting more than two experience in FMCG, brand building and supply-chain management. Before joining the Tata Group, Bhan worked at Hindustan Unilever and Unilever, where she held various leadership roles, including in markets and categories. Bhan's new role is part of the online grocer's efforts to focus on private labels and packaged goods, which are seen as critical areas for boosting customer engagement and improving profit margins in the ever-increasing competitive quick commerce sector. The reshuffle comes days after BigBasket appointed Manish Bajoria as its new chief financial officer, a move seen by experts as part of the company's push to strengthen its strategic and financial footing amid surging competition in the quick commerce space. How quick commerce players are reshuffling leadership roles? Notably, BigBasket's appointment of Deepika Bhan is not a standalone phenomenon in India's quick commerce and online food delivery sector, and is part of a broader reshuffle within the space. On Monday, online food delivery giant Eternal (formerly Zomato), appointed Aditya Mangla as CEO of its food delivery and ordering business and strategic mobility platform (SMP). In December 2024, Zomato-owned quick commerce giant, Blinkit, had appointed Flipkart veteran Vipin Kapooria as CFO, while in May this year, Instamart– Blinkit's main rival– named Ankit Jain, another senior Flipkart executive, as the senior vice president of operations. Who else is part of BigBasket board? The board of directors of BigBasket includes its co-founder and CEO CEO Hari Menon, aurabh Agrawal, Group CFO and executive director at Tata Sons; Ankur Verma, senior vice president at Tata Sons; and Vishal Gupta, partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. Vipul Parekh, another co-founder is also a board member. Parekh rejoined BigBasket in 2024 after VS Sudhakar, another co-founder of the company, stepped down.
Time of India
26-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Food safety lapses: Brands tighten quick commerce terms
MUMBAI: Following incidents of food safety violations at dark stores operated by quick commerce platforms, brands are renegotiating and tightening their terms of contract with them to ensure that such instances are kept under check. "Clauses related to storage, handling and hygiene are being renegotiated, especially in the context of dark stores and last-mile are also keeping legal options open particularly where negligent handling could trigger consumer claims or regulatory scrutiny," Chandan Goswami, partner at law firm AT & Partners told TOI. At least half a dozen brands including Marico, ITC, Godrej Consumer Products and Dabur declined to comment. Queries sent to Zepto, Swiggy and Zomato-owned Blinkit did not elicit any responses. Earlier this month, the Maharashtra Food & Drug Administration department had suspended food business licences of Zepto's Dharavi dark store and another managed by Blinkit in Pune's Balewadi area over food safety violations and regulatory non-compliance. The licences have been reinstated following inspection by authorities and adherence to compliance by the platforms. Brands are now negotiating representations and warranties (as part of the contract), asserting compliance with FSSAI norms and accurate food handling procedures. They are also incorporating robust indemnity clauses to shield themselves from losses or reputational harm arising from platform lapses besides seeking audit rights to get access to dark stores and fulfilment centres for verification, said Dheeraj Nair, partner at JSA Advocates & Solicitors. "Quick commerce operators can no longer be treated as mere facilitators; they are increasingly viewed as co-custodians of regulated goods. Brands, in response, are revising contracts to force accountability through precise compliance standards and legal safeguards," said Nair. To be sure, the FSSAI e-commerce guidance and advisories require formal written agreements between brand owners and platforms affirming compliance with FSSAI regulations, legal experts said. The market for quick commerce or 10-minute deliveries is rapidly growing in India, particularly in the metros where, pressed for time, consumers do not mind paying a bit extra to get groceries and other products delivered at their doorstep in minutes. The space has expanded to cover a whole host of non-grocery categories including toys, jewellery, electronics and select apparel. A recent report by Kearney said that the quick commerce market is expected to triple between 2024 and 2027 touching Rs 1.5-1.7 lakh crore. Pursuant to recent developments, both brands and quick commerce platforms are likely to increasingly scrutinise the representations and warranties which form a part of their agreements. This will ensure requisite licences, including those under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 have been obtained and maintained, said Sahil Narang, partner at Khaitan & Co. "The focus will also be on compliance protocols, especially in relation to perishable goods where hygiene and storage standards are critical," Narang said. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
