Flipkart Minutes Reaches 1,000 Dark Stores Across India
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Flipkart has expanded its quick commerce arm Minutes past 1,000 dark stores across 120 to 130 Indian cities. Dark stores operational for five to six months handle between 1,000 and 1,500 orders daily, according to research from investment bank UBS.
Across the entire network, average daily volume sits at 800 to 1,000 orders per store. The rapid rollout has allowed the Walmart-backed e-commerce operator to challenge pure-play instant delivery platforms on order size and distribution density.
Electronics Drive Higher Basket Values
Excluding mobile phones, Minutes records a net order value of Rs 500 to Rs 530, matching Blinkit’s benchmark of Rs 518. When mobile devices are included, Minutes generates a higher average basket value than Blinkit, aided by Flipkart’s long-established vendor relationships and supply chains in consumer tech.
The service has also helped Flipkart defend customer spending. In operational markets, between 40 and 45 per cent of existing Flipkart marketplace shoppers now use Minutes, recovering transaction volume previously lost to specialized instant delivery apps in fresh produce and personal care.
Indian e-commerce platforms are increasingly using 10-minute delivery networks to shield high-margin categories from encroachment by grocery startups. While gross margins at Minutes trail Blinkit, per-order fulfillment costs have narrowed to match levels at Swiggy Instamart and Blinkit, though operational throughput is still catching up.
Network Growth and Metro Demand
Metropolitan areas generate 60 to 65 per cent of total orders on Minutes. North India accounts for just under one-third of overall volume, while southern cities are expanding quickly and eastern hubs such as Kolkata show strong adoption.
Flipkart is planning to add roughly 1,000 more dark stores by the middle of next year. That expansion schedule aims to support peak demand ahead of the group’s annual Big Billion Days sale, provided backend warehouse construction keeps pace.
Questions & Answers
Q.How do the order volumes of Flipkart Minutes compare to the wider network?
How do the order volumes of Flipkart Minutes compare to the wider network?
Dark stores operational for five to six months handle between 1,000 and 1,500 orders daily. Across the entire network, the average daily volume is 800 to 1,000 orders per store.
Q.How much of Flipkart's existing customer base uses the Minutes service?
How much of Flipkart's existing customer base uses the Minutes service?
In operational markets, between 40 and 45 per cent of existing Flipkart marketplace shoppers now use Minutes. This helps recover transaction volume previously lost to specialised instant delivery apps.
Q.What is the average order value for Minutes, particularly for electronics?
What is the average order value for Minutes, particularly for electronics?
Excluding mobile phones, Minutes records a net order value of Rs 500 to Rs 530. When mobile devices are included, Minutes generates a higher average basket value than Blinkit.
Q.What are Flipkart's future plans for expanding its dark store network?
What are Flipkart's future plans for expanding its dark store network?
Flipkart plans to add roughly 1,000 more dark stores by the middle of next year. This expansion supports peak demand ahead of the Big Billion Days sale, if warehouse construction keeps pace.
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