As competition intensifies in the quick commerce space, Flipkart, the ecommerce giant, has tapped its Senior Vice President and Group Head of Supply Chain, Hemant Badri, to lead its foray into this rapidly growing sector.
According to Badri’s LinkedIn profile, he has been with Flipkart for slightly over three years. Prior to joining Flipkart, he amassed nearly 11 years of experience at Unilever, serving as vice president of worldwide planning and holding various other roles.
Before that, he had stints at Colgate Palmolive and Kirloskar Oil Engines.
This development was first reported by MoneyControl. The report, citing sources, indicated that unlike existing players Blinkit, Swiggy Instamart, and Zepto, Flipkart intends to forge partnerships with kirana stores for its quick commerce operations.
However, according to a report by The Economic Times, Flipkart is presently in the process of establishing dark stores to inaugurate its quick commerce business in July.
Continue Exploring: Flipkart challenges Zepto and Blinkit with quick commerce expansion
A Flipkart spokesperson confirmed that Badri would be spearheading the company’s quick commerce venture. However, the spokesperson refrained from commenting when queried about whether the company would establish its own dark stores or collaborate with kirana stores.
Last month, reports emerged stating that Flipkart was planning to enter the quick commerce sector by introducing 10-15 minute delivery services in at least a dozen cities within the next six to eight weeks.
Flipkart was also considering acquiring a controlling stake in the quick commerce unicorn Zepto. However, the talks ultimately didn’t materialize.
Continue Exploring: Flipkart’s bid for majority stake in Zepto hits snag; quick-commerce startup shifts focus to financial investors
These developments come at a time when the demand for quick commerce services is surging, particularly in Tier-I cities across the country.
As per a Deloitte report from 2023, it has become a favored channel among consumers, boasting a 51% purchase rate from a sample size of 841.
Consequently, platforms such as Zomato’s Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart are broadening their stockkeeping units to include non-grocery items like apparel, electronics, and more, aiming to deliver them to customers within 10-15 minutes.
Continue Exploring:Â Quick commerce platforms Blinkit and Zepto expand into e-commerce, targeting fashion, beauty, electronics, and more
Last week, Swiggy announced its integration of Swiggy Mall, a platform offering a diverse array of non-grocery items such as footwear and electronics, with Instamart, aimed at broadening the latter’s product range.
