VEI5P132

A Study on the Evolution and Growth of Quick Commerce in India

Prachi Mangale^1*, Sneha W. G²

Abstract

Quick commerce (q-commerce) has fundamentally altered how urban Indians access everyday essentials, shifting the benchmark for retail delivery from days to minutes. Catalysed by pandemic-era behavioural changes, deep smartphone penetration, and the ubiquity of digital payment infrastructure, the Indian q-commerce sector has scaled from USD 0.84 billion in 2022 to an estimated USD 5.50 billion in 2025, registering a compound annual growth rate exceeding 85%. This paper presents a structured secondary research analysis examining five interconnected dimensions of q-commerce growth in India: market trajectory, consumer behavioural evolution, business model maturation, technology adoption, and macroeconomic impact. Drawing on disclosures from Zomato, Swiggy, and Zepto alongside industry intelligence from RedSeer, Bain, Bernstein Research, and KPMG, the study synthesises quantitative trends spanning 2022 to 2025. Findings indicate that platform consolidation around a Blinkit-led triopoly, improving unit economics, AI-driven operational efficiency, and expanding Tier II penetration are collectively reshaping Indian retail. Concurrently, the sector’s rapid growth has generated substantial gig employment—projected at 12.1 lakh workers by 2025—alongside significant disruption to traditional neighbourhood grocery retailers. The paper concludes with implications for investors, policymakers, and platform operators navigating this fast-evolving landscape.

Keywords:

Quick commerce; q-commerce India; dark stores; hyperlocal delivery; last-mile logistics; digital retail; Blinkit; Zepto; Swiggy Instamart