SUMMARY
- Blinkit is set to launch a café function to deliver snacks and drinks, expanding beyond groceries.
- Rapid commerce firms, including Flipkart and Swiggy, are diversifying into toys, electronics, and household items.
- Blinkit’s GOV grew 130% YoY in Q1 FY25, targeting 2,000 dark stores by 2026.
Zomato-owned Blinkit is set to launch a café function that will allow it to deliver snacks and drinks, in yet another attempt to branch out outside the grocery market.
Fast deliveries for popular snacks like sandwiches and samosas will be available with this function later this month, according to Mint, which will go into pilot mode in a few locations. Depending on the demand for these deliveries, Blinkit may also include foods like spaghetti and noodles that need to be prepared.
In response to rising customer demand, rapid commerce companies have broadened their operations and varied their product offerings during the past six months. Almost all platforms, including the recently launched Flipkart Minutes and Swiggy Instamart, have expanded into categories including toys, beauty products, electronics, pet care, and smaller household appliances.
Blinkit’s gross order value (GOV) increased by 130% to ₹4,923 crore in Q1 FY25 from ₹2,140 crore in the same quarter the previous year as a result of the additions. From ₹4,027 crore in Q4 FY24, it grew sequentially by 22.2%. The firm has 639 dark stores throughout the nation, and the average daily GOV per store has increased to ₹10 Lakh from ₹6 Lakh for the previous 383 stores. By the end of 2026, the company wants to reach 2,000 dark stores while still being profitable.
Brokerage CLSA’s estimate indicates that by the financial year 2025–26 (FY26), the gross order value of significant participants in fast commerce, such as Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, is likely to reach $10 billion due to their development into Tier 2 and 3 markets in addition to grocery stores.
