Flipkart hits 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers in quick-commerce push

On Wednesday, Flipkart announced that its quick-commerce service, Flipkart Minutes, has built a network of 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers—which are small, strategically located warehouses designed to enable deliveries in minutes. The Walmart-backed company plans to expand this network to 1,500 micro-fulfillment centers by the end of 2026. This rapid infrastructure buildout is part of an effort to capture a larger share of the quick-commerce market in the South Asian nation, where competitors are racing to add capacity. Amazon is also targeting a similar milestone as it expands its fast-delivery business in India.

The service, which launched in August 2024, is experiencing strong consumer adoption. According to Kunal Gupta, the head of Flipkart Minutes, shopping habits are shifting as customers increasingly order items like electronics and beauty products rather than just everyday essentials. Gupta stated that what began as a way to fulfill everyday essentials has evolved into a fundamentally new shopping habit for millions of Indians. He added, “Customers are not just ordering more; they are ordering differently.” The company reported the following growth metrics for the service:

• Order volume grew about 400% compared to the previous year.
• Customer retention increased 20% year-over-year.

This expansion occurs within a maturing quick-commerce landscape in India. According to analyst firm Jefferies, Flipkart could emerge as India’s second-largest quick-commerce network by micro-fulfillment center count. It currently trails Blinkit, owned by Eternal, which operates 2,243 such centers. Other competitors, including Zepto and Swiggy Instamart, are also expanding. Meanwhile, Amazon plans to expand its Amazon Now service to 100 cities with more than 1,000 micro-fulfillment centers. Across the South Asian nation, the total number of dark stores—retail outlets or distribution centers that cater exclusively to online shopping—currently stands at more than 5,500, according to analyst firm Bernstein. That figure is projected to reach about 7,500 by 2030. Gupta stated that Flipkart plans to continue its rapid expansion, noting that the company will not slow down after reaching 1,000 stores and is fully committed to the expansion.

Why it matters

Flipkart is expanding its micro-fulfillment network to secure a foothold in India’s maturing quick-commerce sector, positioning itself to challenge market leader Blinkit as Amazon also ramps up infrastructure.