ZEPTO
Quick commerce to hike festive workforce by up to 60%
Quick-commerce firms in India plan to increase temporary staff by up to 60% for the festive season. Redseer estimates quick commerce deliveries will double to 10% of total e-commerce. Flipkart, Amazon, Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto are preparing for Diwali. Around 80,000 to 100,000 workers will be hired. Tier 2 cities are also ramping up fast.
Swiggy Instamart to launch Quick India Movement festive sale on September 19
Swiggy Instamart's 'Quick India Movement' sale, offering 50-90% discounts on over 50,000 products, will run from September 19-28, preceding Amazon and Flipkart's festive sales. The sale includes electronics, beauty, and more, featuring brands like Apple, OnePlus, and L'Oréal.
You will make 12-15% CAGR but don’t invest for 5-6 month horizons: Raamdeo Agrawal
Raamdeo Agrawal of Motilal Oswal Financial Services advises long-term investment in Indian equities, projecting 12-15% annual growth. He cautions against short-term expectations and suggests staggered investments amid market volatility. Agrawal urges GST rationalization and opening tourism and education sectors for economic stimulus.
Former Flipkart exec’s quick comm startup FirstClub raises $23 million; valuation jumps to $120 million
The company plans to deploy the funds towards opening new dark stores in Bengaluru, rolling out formats like cafes and daily subscriptions, expanding into new categories, hiring talent, and investing in brand building.
GST Council slashes tax on personal-care items like shampoo, toothpaste, hair oil to 5%
The GST Council has agreed to reduce the tax rate on essential personal care items like hair oil, toothpaste, and shampoo from 18% to 5%, benefiting consumers and companies like Hindustan Unilever and Godrej Industries. This move, part of the broader GST 2.
Promoters selling, retail investors buying. Who's right? Raamdeo Agrawal answers
Despite Indian promoters offloading record shares, retail investors remain bullish, says Raamdeo Agrawal. Promoter shareholding fell to an eight-year low, while domestic institutional investors' share rose to a record high, surpassing foreign investors. Agrawal likens the market to expensive Mumbai property, advising investors to accept slightly higher prices for long-term growth.
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Raamdeo Agrawal advocates for bold reforms in India amid US tariff challenges
Raamdeo Agrawal advocates for bold reforms by the government. He notes the current market dynamics of promoters selling and retail investors buying. Agrawal sees opportunities despite pricey valuations, advising investors to buy and hold for long-term growth. He cautions against the risks of investing in unlisted companies. He suggests a SIP approach for lump sum investments.
Choice Institutional initiates coverage on Nazara Technologies with Buy rating, sees 21% upside potential
Choice Institutional Equities initiated coverage on Nazara Technologies with a BUY rating. Strong growth, acquisitions, and global expansion support momentum, though regulatory risks and underperforming IPs remain key challenges
Festive season: Quick commerce to ramp up temp workforce by 40–60%
Quick-commerce platforms are gearing up for a significant surge in demand this festive season, projecting a 40-60% increase in temporary workforce. This expansion aims to manage the expected doubling of quick commerce deliveries, potentially reaching 10% of the total e-commerce market.
Change of Cart: Tata plans CEO change at BigBasket
BigBasket CEO Hari Menon has been charting a succession plan over the past few months, people in the know tell us. Going forward, he may take on a mentor role at the online grocer he cofounded, as his five-year tenure nears completion.
BigBasket top brass churn; RMG ban pain manifests
Happy Tuesday! BigBasket CEO Hari Menon is expected to take a step back as part of a leadership transition. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
BigBasket founders plan to step back; CEO Hari Menon prepares succession amid Tata Group’s quick commerce push
BigBasket founders, including CEO Hari Menon, are preparing to transition into mentoring roles as Tata Group seeks a new leader to sharpen its competitive edge in the quick commerce market. With Menon's tenure nearing completion, the company is actively shortlisting candidates to drive growth and reassure investors amid increasing competition from Blinkit, Instamart and Zepto.
ET Startup Awards 2025 | Comeback Kid: Capillary Technologies weathers a raging storm
The jury’s focus was on the nominees’ persistence during their lows and execution impact during their highs. Bengaluru-based Capillary Technologies ultimately clinched the award, with the jury praising its tenacity and lauding the team for an impressive turnaround.
The Golden Thumb Rule| IPO Rush, AI Noise, and Timeless Principles: Ambit’s Nitin Bhasin on Navigating Markets
Nitin Bhasin of Ambit Capital stresses that despite IPO hype, AI buzz, and market sentiment swings, timeless principles—valuation discipline, behavioural control, and long-term focus—remain the true foundations of successful investing.
Proposed Reliance Jio IPO in 2026 billed as biggest public issue in Indian history
Reliance Jio, India's largest telecom operator, is planning to launch its initial public offering (IPO) by the first half of 2026, which could be the biggest share-sale in the country's history.
Festive fireworks ahead for ecommerce firms with season sales to rise 27%
Indian e-commerce marketplaces and online retailers anticipate a record-breaking festive season, projecting sales of Rs 1.2 lakh crore, a 27% increase from last year. Quick commerce is set to account for over Rs 14,000 crore of this estimate. This resurgence comes on the back of consumer sentiment in urban India turning positive after three years of slower growth.
SME IPO meltdown: 30 NSE listings in 2025 slump up to 58% versus 9 mainboard laggards
In 2025, the Indian primary market sees 121 IPOs, but 39 stocks trade below their issue price. SME IPOs are hit hardest, with 30 in the red. Arunaya Organics falls the most, down 58%. Nine mainboard listings also quote below their price band. Experts anticipate the upbeat sentiment to continue.
40 IPOs hit Dalal Street in August; Tata Capital stands out in upcoming list
August 2025 marked one of the busiest months for India’s primary market, with 40 IPOs across mainboard and SME platforms. While debuts like Aditya Infotech and Highway Infrastructure soared, others such as Laxmi India Finance struggled. Experts see momentum continuing, with upcoming IPOs from Tata Capital, Zepto, PhonePe, HeroFinCorp, and FabIndia, driven by strong liquidity and investor appetite.
Not just groceries: Blinkit, Zepto & others turn festive bazaars on your phone
Quick commerce platforms in India, including BigBasket, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, experienced a surge in sales during Raksha Bandhan and other festivals. These platforms, initially focused on grocery delivery, are expanding into electronics, apparel, and home furnishings, driven by changing consumer shopping patterns.
Kitchenware brand Cumin Co raises $1.5 million in round led by Fireside Ventures
Huddle Ventures also participated in the round. The funds will be used to scale enamel-based manufacturing in India and strengthen its supply chain.
Amid shift to inventory model, Blinkit offers sellers waiver on fee for recall of unsold goods
This comes at a time when Blinkit is transitioning to an inventory-led model from a marketplace model, following its parent Eternal becoming an Indian-owned and controlled company (IOCC) in April. Rival Zepto has also been increasing its domestic shareholding.
Indian digital advertising market to grow at 15% annually: Bain & Company report
Per the global management consulting firm, this growth between 2024 and 2029 will be driven by consumption growth, the emergence of new media avenues, and wider internet usage. The report said that, from spending the majority of their digital advertising budgets on Google and Meta, brands are now diversifying to news apps, OTT and ecommerce platforms, quick commerce apps, and gaming apps.
ET Startup Awards 2025: Nominees for Comeback Kid
This award celebrates failure and recognises those who have survived to tell the tale. It will be given to entrepreneurs who rebuilt or launched a more successful business.
ET Soonicorns Summit 2025: Meat isn’t built for 10-minute delivery, say Licious founders
At ET Soonicorns Summit 2025, Licious cofounders said quick commerce has reshaped demand but isn’t suited for perishable meat products. With 300 items and a two-day shelf life, Licious is using AI to scale 30-minute delivery sustainably. This comes amid rising competition in the quick commerce space.
Walmart International’s margins squeezed by Flipkart, Myntra quick commerce bets
Walmart International’s gross profit dipped in the June quarter due to rising investments in India’s quick commerce sector via Flipkart and Myntra. Kathryn McLay, CEO of Walmart International, said the company is ramping up its focus on rapid deliveries in India. This move comes as competition heats up with players like Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto.
Eternal shares in focus as parent sets up new subsidiary Blinkit Foods
Eternal, parent of Zomato and Blinkit, will launch a new subsidiary, Blinkit Foods, focusing on 10-minute food delivery under its Bistro brand. With 38 kitchens in Bengaluru and Delhi-NCR, early demand has been encouraging. The company aims to target home-style meals and quick snacks while refining its model for profitability. Shares closed 1.5% lower at Rs 321.65.
Housing.com parent firm REA India clocks 25 pc revenue growth to AUD 129.2 mn last fiscal
Realty firm House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) has tied up with quick commerce platform Zepto to market its residential plots.
House of Abhinandan Lodha partners with Zepto to market housing plots
House of Abhinandan Lodha (HoABL) has partnered with Zepto to market its residential plots, starting with premium plots in Vrindavan and Neral. This collaboration expands HoABL's digital reach, allowing customers to discover and engage with their offerings on the Zepto app. Prospective customers can connect with an HOABL expert via video call within 10 minutes for guidance.
Quick commerce platforms go all-in on festive discounts
A fierce price war is erupting in the quick-commerce sector as platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart offer substantial discounts, up to 70% on select items, to attract customers during the festive season. Newer rivals such as Flipkart Minutes and JioMart are also aggressively participating, leading to increased competition and higher discounts on daily essentials and festive-specific products.
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