Flipkart expands quick-commerce with 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers
Original: Walmart-backed Flipkart expands quick-commerce push as Amazon ramps up in India
Why This Matters
Quick-commerce is becoming India's next major e-commerce battleground with substantial infrastructure investment and market consolidation underway.
Walmart-backed Flipkart announced Wednesday that its Minutes quick-commerce service has built 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers in less than two years, with plans to expand to 1,500 by end of 2026, competing with Amazon and other players in India's rapidly growing fast-delivery sector.
Flipkart said its Minutes service, launched in August 2024, has established 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers—small, strategically located warehouses enabling minute-level deliveries—and plans to expand to 1,500 by end of 2026. The service currently operates in more than 130 cities and 8,000 postal codes. According to Jefferies analysis, Flipkart could become India's second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count, behind Blinkit which operates 2,243 centers. Kunal Gupta, head of Flipkart Minutes, stated orders have grown approximately 400% year-over-year, with customer retention increasing 20% annually. The platform's product mix has evolved beyond groceries to include electronics, beauty, and personal care items. Amazon is also intensifying competition through its Amazon Now service, currently available in more than 15 cities with over 500 micro-fulfillment centers, with plans to expand to 100 cities and 1,000 centers. Other competitors include Blinkit (owned by Eternal), Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart, all investing heavily in infrastructure expansion. India has become one of the world's fastest-growing quick-commerce markets, with companies racing to build delivery networks and expand product categories beyond groceries.