As the rapid growth of quick commerce continues across India, dark stores are facing a mounting need for workers to pick, pack, and load goods. The surge in demand is being driven by the expansion of quick commerce players in numerous cities and towns. As these companies race to grow their networks, the competition for “under-the-roof” workers has intensified, with a sharp rise in job vacancies. This rapid expansion has also led to higher employee turnover rates.
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Zomato is on track to increase its Blinkit dark store network from 1,007 to 2,000 by the end of this year. Meanwhile, Swiggy Instamart is planning to nearly double its presence from 523 stores in March 2024 to over 1,046 by March 2025. Zepto, too, has aggressive expansion plans, aiming for 1,200 dark stores by March 2025, up from the current 700-750 as of December 2024.
However, the expansion comes at a cost. In the December quarter of FY25, Blinkit, which Zomato owns, reported an increase in losses due to its rapid growth initiatives. Despite aiming to reach 1,000 dark stores by March 2024, the company exceeded its target ahead of schedule, achieving 1,007 stores by December 31. Now, Blinkit has set its sights on accelerating its expansion even further, with plans to operate 2,000 dark stores by December 2025, pulling forward its initial target of December 2026.
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This breakneck pace of growth highlights the intense pressure on dark stores to meet the demands of quick commerce, with workers being crucial to keeping the supply chain moving efficiently.