India’s online grocery pioneer BigBasket is gearing up to shake up the quick-commerce industry by launching a 10-minute food delivery service across the country by March 2026. The move will put BigBasket in direct competition with players like Zomato, Swiggy’s Snacc, Blinkit’s Bistro, and Zepto Café.
According to Vipul Parekh, BigBasket’s co-founder, the plan is to expand from a pilot run in Bengaluru to full-scale nationwide operations in the coming fiscal year. The company is leveraging its position as a Tata Group company to scale fast, with no plans to raise external capital for this expansion.
BigBasket’s Quick-Commerce Strategy
Unlike traditional grocery deliveries that take hours, BigBasket’s new model focuses on delivering freshly prepared food and beverages within 10 minutes. This service will run parallel to its existing grocery delivery platform.
The backbone of this initiative will be dark stores — small warehouses located in densely populated neighborhoods. These facilities will serve as hyperlocal fulfillment centers where two-wheeler riders pick up orders for instant delivery.
“We’re planning to expand from 700 to 1,200 dark stores by the end of 2025,” said Parekh in a recent interview with Reuters.
By leveraging Tata Group’s internal brands like Starbucks India and Qmin (the food service wing of Indian Hotels), BigBasket will avoid relying on third-party restaurant partnerships, allowing tighter control on quality and faster logistics.
Targeting Zomato, Swiggy & Zepto Customers
BigBasket is positioning this new vertical to serve not just its existing grocery customers, but also to attract users from food delivery giants such as Zomato and Swiggy. These platforms already offer 10–15 minute deliveries in selected urban areas. The strategy is not just competitive but also complementary, with BigBasket aiming to “unlock a new pool of customers”.
During the ongoing pilot in Bengaluru, about 5%–10% of users have begun bundling their regular grocery orders with the new quick-food menu, indicating growing adoption potential.
Food Menu & Partnerships
The curated menu will include coffee, snacks, and ready-to-eat meals sourced entirely from Tata Group companies. While competitors rely on a network of independent restaurants and cafés, BigBasket’s internal supply chain gives it a logistical and quality advantage.
Here’s what users can expect:
- Freshly brewed Starbucks coffee
- Ready-to-eat meals from Qmin
- Prepared snacks with quick packaging and dispatch
IPO on the Horizon
Amid rumors of external fundraising, Parekh confirmed that BigBasket is not seeking new investors and is well-funded through Tata’s internal capital. He reiterated plans to go public in the next 18–24 months.
This could make BigBasket the first publicly listed quick-commerce firm in India, setting a new precedent for the industry and boosting investor confidence in the high-growth sector.
India’s Quick-Commerce Boom
The quick-commerce sector in India is currently worth $7.1 billion (~₹60,700 crore), according to the Indus Valley Report by Blume Ventures. Analysts describe it as the “fastest-growing industry segment ever” in India’s digital economy.
Other recent developments in India’s fast delivery space include:
- Swiggy Instamart delivering smartphones in select cities
- Zepto offering hot snacks under 12 minutes
- Zomato and Blinkit exploring drone deliveries in Mumbai
Conclusion
BigBasket’s bold move into the 10-minute food delivery arena marks a major evolution in India’s quick-commerce landscape. With the backing of Tata, a unique logistics model, and strategic brand tie-ups, it’s poised to challenge existing giants head-on.
As we approach 2026, it’s clear that the real competition in Indian food delivery won’t just be about who’s the cheapest — but who’s the fastest, most consistent, and most trusted.
Stay tuned for updates on the BigBasket IPO and new dark store rollouts in your city.
