Flipkart to expand grocery business to 70 cities in India

Walmart-owned Flipkart plans to expand its grocery operations in 20 more cities from the existing 50 at a time when rival and the online grocery leader Big Basket is getting acquired by the Tata Group.

"Grocery continues to be one of the fastest-growing categories, with the increase in demand for quality food and household supplies from users. In line with this, we have invested in scaling up our grocery operations across the country, strengthening ecosystem partnerships, thus ensuring a seamless grocery shopping experience through an expansive product selection, robust supply chain and smooth in-app experience for consumers," said Manish Kumar, senior vice president, grocery, general merchandise and furniture, Flipkart.

"We have witnessed increased demand for groceries from tier 2 cities in the past year, fueled by customers increasing preference for contactless shopping, from the comforts of their home. It is a trend that we think will continue and will set the course of e-grocery space in India," he added.

,,,, through its dedicated grocery fulfillment centers. Flipkart has also expanded its services to cities beyond the metros such as Mysore, Kanpur, Warangal and Allahabad, among others through a satellite-expansion marketplace model.