Flipkart's quick commerce division, Minutes, is projected to scale its dark store count from 1,000 to approximately 2,000 by mid-2027, around the time of the Big Billion Days sale, according to UBS. This expansion aims to strengthen Minutes’ presence across metro and emerging cities, leveraging Flipkart’s existing customer base and backend infrastructure.
- Minutes to nearly double dark stores to 2,000 by mid-2027
- Metro cities drive 60-65% of Minutes' demand, with strong tier II/III growth
- Competitive pressures rise as Amazon Now and Swiggy expand quick commerce
What happened
According to a UBS report, Flipkart-owned quick commerce platform Minutes aims to add 1,000 new dark stores by mid-2027, potentially doubling its current network. As of June 2026, Minutes operates around 1,000 micro-fulfilment centres across 130 cities and more than 8,000 pin codes in India. The rollout of new locations will rely on markets’ performance and the development of supporting infrastructure such as distribution hubs.
Minutes’ stores handle an average of 800-1,000 orders daily, with mature stores processing 1,200-1,500 orders. This expansion seeks to capitalize on Flipkart’s established ecommerce ecosystem, drawing customers into fresh produce, personal care, and immediate-use product segments. The platform has recently added premium grocery and specialty food items under its new private label, Pykd, while piloting premium third-party brands in Bengaluru.
Why it matters
The doubling of Minutes’ dark store footprint could significantly enhance Flipkart's quick commerce logistics and customer reach across India’s urban and non-metro areas. This positions Flipkart to better compete with Amazon Now and Swiggy Instamart, which are aggressively expanding their own fulfillment networks and service offerings. With metro cities contributing 60-65% of demand and rapid growth in eastern and southern India, Minutes is tapping strong regional consumption trends.
Improved operational scale and expanding product assortment help Minutes increase order values and customer transaction frequency. UBS notes that Minutes’ average net order value is comparable to Blinkit’s, highlighting Flipkart's advantages in categories like electronics and mobile phones. While operational efficiencies are still improving, the competitive landscape is intensifying as quick commerce platforms diversify beyond groceries into electronics, beauty, fashion, and health products.
What to watch next
Key developments to monitor include how effectively Minutes integrates new dark stores and hubs, balancing self-managed stores with partner and franchisee locations. The expansion success will also depend on customer adoption in Tier II and Tier III cities, where delivery tolerances differ and delivery areas are larger. The impact of adding premium grocery brands and third-party offerings on Minutes’ growth trajectory will be crucial.
Additionally, the competitive responses from Amazon Now, planning 1,000 dark stores by end of 2026, and Swiggy Instamart, leveraging excess capacity, will shape the quick commerce landscape. Investors and market observers will also watch how Minutes’ operational costs, gross margins, and advertising revenue evolve as the platform scales in the increasingly crowded Indian quick commerce sector.