Tag: Flipkart

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Corporate

Myntra’s ₹2,326-cr Ad spend accompanies its FY26 loss

Myntra, the fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform owned by the Flipkart Group, spent ₹2,326.5 crore on advertising in the financial year 2025-26, even as its revenue declined and it slipped into a net loss. The company’s advertising expenditure rose 10.5% from the previous financial year, highlighting the scale of investment required to attract shoppers and maintain its position in India’s competitive online fashion market.

According to financial statements filed with the Registrar of Companies, Myntra reported a net loss of ₹579.4 crore in FY26, compared with a net profit of ₹548.5 crore in FY25. Its revenue from operations fell 13.5% year-on-year to ₹5,242.5 crore from ₹6,063.8 crore.

The figures present a mixed picture for the company. While its advertising business recorded strong growth, a sharp decline in logistics revenue pulled down overall operating income. Advertising also remained its largest expense, accounting for a substantial share of the company’s spending.

Myntra’s advertising expenditure was nearly 1.9 times the ₹1,236.4 crore it earned from advertising services during the year. The company generates advertising income by charging brands and sellers for promotional placements on its platform. This business has become an important revenue stream as e-commerce platforms seek to monetise their customer base beyond marketplace commissions.

Revenue from advertising services increased 35.2% in FY26 from ₹914.5 crore in the previous year. The segment contributed around 23.6% of Myntra’s operating revenue, making it one of the company’s stronger-performing businesses.

However, the increase in advertising income did not offset the overall pressure on revenue and profitability. Marketplace services remained Myntra’s largest operating revenue source, contributing approximately 50.7% of the total. Income from this segment rose 3% to ₹2,657.3 crore from ₹2,580.2 crore in FY25.

The modest increase suggests that the company’s core marketplace revenue grew at a slower pace than its advertising business. Marketplace services primarily generate income through fees and commissions charged to sellers using the platform.

The biggest setback came from logistics services. Revenue from logistics and shipping fell 53.2% to ₹1,119.2 crore in FY26 from ₹2,390.5 crore a year earlier. This sharp decline was the main reason for the fall in total operating revenue.

Excluding logistics and shipping services, Myntra’s operating revenue actually increased 12% to ₹4,123.3 crore from ₹3,673.3 crore in FY25. This indicates that its marketplace, advertising and other operating businesses continued to grow even as the logistics segment contracted.

Revenue from other operating services rose to ₹229.6 crore from ₹178.6 crore. Including non-operating income of ₹73.3 crore, largely from royalty income, Myntra’s total revenue stood at ₹5,315.8 crore during the year.

On the cost side, total expenses remained broadly stable at ₹5,757.7 crore, compared with ₹5,726 crore in FY25. Advertising was the largest individual expense, while logistics-related costs declined 16.6% to ₹1,666.6 crore from ₹1,999.2 crore.

Employee benefit expenses increased around 4% to ₹777 crore, including ₹235.4 crore in employee stock ownership plan costs. Information technology expenses stood at ₹323.8 crore, while payment gateway charges amounted to ₹174.4 crore.

The company’s financial performance was also affected by restructuring costs associated with its reverse flip from Singapore to India. Its financial statements recorded a loss before tax of ₹441.9 crore, compared with a profit before tax of ₹411 crore in FY25. The previous year’s profit included a deferred tax credit, making the year-on-year comparison more complex.

Myntra’s advertising spending reflects the pressure on online retailers to remain visible in a crowded market where brands compete for shoppers through discounts, promotional campaigns and sponsored listings. At the same time, the company earns money by selling advertising space to those same brands and sellers.

The challenge will be to turn this spending into sustainable growth and stronger margins. Higher advertising revenue is encouraging, but the gap between advertising expenditure and advertising income highlights the scale of the investment involved.

Myntra has reported positive customer trends in the current financial year. The company said customer growth in FY27 had reached around 30% so far and that it was on track to reach 100 million monthly active users during the festive season. Its Big Fashion Festival, which began on October 8, recorded a fourfold increase in demand over normal business levels during its first 24 hours, according to the company.

These figures suggest continued consumer interest, particularly during major shopping events. However, the company will need to convert that demand into profitable transactions while managing advertising and operational costs.

 

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Corporate

Flipkart’s FY26 revenue rises 18%, losses narrow slightly

Flipkart Group reported an 18% rise in revenue from operations to ₹1.46 lakh crore in the financial year ended March 2026, while its net loss narrowed only slightly. The results show that the Walmart-backed e-commerce company is expanding its business and improving operating performance, but it still has a considerable distance to cover before achieving profitability.

The company’s consolidated revenue from operations reached ₹1,45,880 crore in FY26, up from the previous financial year. Its net loss declined to ₹8,468 crore from ₹8,646 crore in FY25, an improvement of around ₹178 crore. The financial statements were filed with the Registrar of Companies under Flipkart Internet Private Limited.

The results cover the wider Flipkart Group rather than only its main shopping platform. The group includes e-commerce marketplace Flipkart, fashion platform Myntra, travel booking service Cleartrip, quick-commerce business Flipkart Minutes and other operations, including logistics and platform services.

The figures are particularly significant as Flipkart continues to strengthen its position in India’s competitive online shopping market. The company serves customers across a wide range of product categories and works with a large network of sellers. Its growth also reflects the scale of the business it must manage, from product purchases and warehousing to delivery networks and technology infrastructure.

Operating losses show bigger improvement

Although the reduction in net loss was modest, the company reported a more substantial improvement in its operating performance. Adjusted operating losses narrowed by approximately ₹1,600 crore year-on-year, a reduction of around 17%.

Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation, or EBITDA, improved by about ₹1,500 crore during the year. The adjusted operating margin also improved to minus 5.4% from minus 7.7% in FY25, an improvement of 230 basis points.

These measures help explain how a company is performing before accounting for certain costs and exceptional items. A narrower operating loss suggests that Flipkart is generating better returns from its business activities, even though it has not yet moved into overall profit.

Gross margins increased by 23% year-on-year, while lower overheads also supported the improvement. Better margins can help an e-commerce company retain more money from sales after accounting for the cost of goods and related expenses.

However, the progress at the operating level did not translate into a similar reduction in the final net loss. Higher finance costs, changes involving deferred tax assets recognised in earlier periods and certain exceptional items limited the improvement.

Expenses continue to weigh on the business

Flipkart’s total income rose to ₹1,46,700 crore in FY26 from ₹1,24,317 crore in the previous year. Total expenses increased by 16% to ₹1,54,781 crore, compared with ₹1,33,400 crore in FY25.

Purchases of stock-in-trade remained the largest expense. The cost rose 17% to ₹1,17,617 crore from ₹1,00,165 crore a year earlier. Other expenses increased 16% to ₹28,277 crore, while employee benefit expenses edged up to ₹8,376 crore from ₹8,268 crore.

Finance costs nearly doubled to ₹1,209 crore from ₹649 crore. Depreciation and amortisation expenses remained largely unchanged at ₹1,801 crore.

The figures highlight the challenge of growing an online retail business while keeping costs under control. Higher sales can bring in more revenue, but stocking products, running fulfilment centres, delivering orders and investing in new services also require substantial spending.

Advertising and quick commerce remain important

Flipkart’s advertising business was another area of growth, with revenue increasing 31% in FY26, faster than the group’s overall revenue growth of 18%.

Advertising has become an important part of e-commerce because sellers and brands pay to improve product visibility and reach shoppers on digital platforms. Growth in this segment can help diversify revenue beyond commissions and sales-related income.

The group is also investing in Flipkart Minutes, its quick-commerce service, which competes with platforms offering rapid delivery of groceries and other daily essentials. The segment requires spending on fulfilment infrastructure, inventory management and delivery operations as companies compete to serve customers who want products quickly.

These investments could help Flipkart strengthen its reach, but they also add to the pressure to improve efficiency and manage costs. The company must balance expansion with the need to make its operations financially sustainable.

India shift puts spotlight on future listing

The FY26 financial statements are the first consolidated results published under Flipkart Internet Private Limited following the group’s move of its corporate domicile from Singapore to India. The company said the figures provide a historical view of its performance for the year ended March 2026, rather than an update on current trading.

The restructuring is also relevant to Flipkart’s potential initial public offering (IPO). A public listing would allow investors to buy shares in the company, but profitability remains a key consideration as it prepares for any future market debut.

The group’s listing plans remain uncertain as its owner, Walmart, prioritises improving financial performance. Reports have indicated that the company has been asked to focus on reaching EBITDA breakeven before moving ahead with its IPO plans.

Flipkart’s latest results therefore present a mixed picture. Revenue is growing, advertising is expanding and adjusted operating losses are shrinking. Yet the net loss remains substantial, and rising expenses and finance costs continue to weigh on the bottom line.

The next challenge will be turning that improvement into sustained profitability without slowing the business. How effectively Flipkart manages this balance will matter not only for its future growth but also for its readiness to approach public-market investors.

 

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Leaders

Flipkart ex-CXOs seek fair deal on ESOPs

Former senior Flipkart executives have approached the board of parent company Walmart, asking for a chance to cash out their vested employee stock options as uncertainty continues over the e-commerce giant’s long-awaited initial public offering.

The group, which includes former Flipkart CEO Mukesh Bansal, former chief business officer Ankit Nagori and former CFO Sanjay Baweja, has asked Walmart for what it calls “fair and equitable treatment” for shares and options they earned while working at the company.

Their October 1 letter was addressed to Walmart chairman Gregory Penner, other board members and Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy. The former executives argue that leaving Flipkart should not automatically prevent them from accessing a liquidity opportunity, particularly when their employee stock options have remained vested for years.

The issue has gained importance because Flipkart’s India IPO plans remain uncertain. While Walmart has repeatedly said a public listing remains part of Flipkart’s strategic roadmap, the company has not provided a firm date.

For former employees who have held their ESOPs for a decade or more, the delay means waiting even longer to turn what was once compensation into actual cash.

The former executives were among Flipkart’s early senior employees, having received stock options during the company’s formative years between roughly 2008 and 2016. They argue that those options were an important part of their compensation when they joined and that they continued to hold the equity long after leaving the company.

Their request comes after Flipkart provided current employees with a partial opportunity to sell vested stock options. In July, eligible employees were allowed to cash out up to 5% of their vested options at ₹713.40 per option.

The former executives are not objecting to the programme for current employees. Their argument is that former employees who still hold vested equity should also be given an opportunity to realise its value.

More than 30,000 current and former Flipkart employees could collectively receive around $4 billion, or about ₹38,000 crore, through ESOP buybacks, according to sources cited by Moneycontrol. Former employees are estimated to account for roughly half of that amount.

That makes the issue considerably larger than a dispute involving a handful of former executives.

Employee stock options have played an important role in the growth of India’s technology and startup ecosystem. Instead of receiving only cash compensation, employees are often given the right to own or purchase shares in a company. If the business grows and eventually goes public or conducts a buyback, those options can become a significant source of wealth.

Flipkart employees have been waiting for precisely such an opportunity.

The company has been preparing for an eventual public listing for some time. It shifted its holding structure from Singapore to India, a move widely seen as an important step towards a domestic IPO. But the listing has repeatedly been pushed back.

In July, Krishnamurthy said Flipkart did not have a timeline for going public. Walmart has since reiterated that an IPO remains part of the company’s plans but said it would move ahead when the timing is right.

That uncertainty has become more noticeable as several other Indian consumer technology companies have moved towards the public markets.

Companies such as Swiggy and Meesho have already listed, while other new-age businesses have either begun the IPO process or moved closer to public markets. For Flipkart employees, the contrast is significant because a listing would provide a clear route to liquidity for their ESOP holdings.

The former executives also point to the fact that early investors and Flipkart’s founders have already had opportunities to realise their investments. They argue that former employees who helped build the company should not be left without a similar opportunity simply because they no longer work there.

The letter therefore frames the issue as one of fairness rather than preferential treatment.

The former executives include other senior names such as former Flipkart chief technology officers Amod Malviya and Ravi Garikipati, former chief people officer Mekin Maheshwari and former vice-president Anuj Chowdhary. Together, they represent an earlier generation of Flipkart leadership that helped build the company from its early e-commerce operations into a much larger digital commerce business.

Flipkart’s transformation has been substantial. The company expanded beyond its original bookselling business into electronics, fashion and other categories, acquired Myntra and Jabong, and eventually separated its payments business PhonePe into an independent company.

For those early employees, the ESOPs were part of the risk they accepted while working at a fast-growing private company. Many have now held the options for 10 to 15 years.

Walmart has acknowledged the concerns. A spokesperson said the company values the perspectives of current and former employees and would examine the issues raised in the letter. Walmart also reiterated that Flipkart’s IPO remains part of its strategic roadmap.

The pressure is not limited to former employees. Current Flipkart staff are also watching the situation closely, particularly as senior executives have left the company and questions over the timing of future ESOP liquidity events remain.

Reports indicate Flipkart has considered another employee liquidity programme that could allow eligible current employees to sell a larger portion of their vested options. However, such plans have not been finalised.

The broader challenge for Flipkart is now clear. Its employees have accumulated significant paper wealth, but without an IPO or sizeable buyback, that wealth remains difficult to access.

The former executives have therefore asked Walmart to provide a complete exit opportunity for eligible former employees holding vested options.

 

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Uncategorized

Flipkart CEO confirms food delivery launch

Flipkart is set to enter India’s highly competitive online food delivery market, taking on established players Swiggy and Zomato in a move that could reshape the country’s rapidly growing digital commerce landscape. The Walmart-owned e-commerce company plans to launch its food delivery service in the coming weeks, beginning with a pilot in Bengaluru before expanding to other cities.

Confirming the development, Flipkart Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy said the company is ready to roll out the new service after months of preparation. The announcement marks another major step in Flipkart’s strategy to expand beyond its traditional e-commerce business and strengthen its presence in high-growth consumer services.

Speaking about the company’s plans, Krishnamurthy said entering a market later than competitors should not be seen as a disadvantage. According to him, companies that focus on delivering a better customer experience and creating real value can still succeed, even in sectors dominated by established players.

“Just because somebody enters a market late doesn’t mean they can’t build a strong business,” he said, expressing confidence that Flipkart can carve out its own space in the food delivery market.

The company is expected to leverage its existing logistics infrastructure, particularly the network built for Flipkart Minutes, its quick commerce platform. With thousands of delivery personnel, dark stores and fulfilment centres already operating across multiple cities, Flipkart believes it has a strong operational base to support restaurant deliveries.

The move comes at a time when India’s food delivery industry is largely controlled by Swiggy and Zomato, which together account for most online food orders. Both companies have spent years building extensive restaurant partnerships, delivery fleets and loyal customer bases. Even so, Flipkart believes there is room for another strong player in the market.

Industry experts say Flipkart’s biggest advantage lies in its massive customer base and well-established digital ecosystem. Millions of users already shop on the platform for electronics, fashion, groceries and household essentials. Adding food delivery could encourage customers to use a single app for multiple daily needs, making the platform even more integral to their lives.

Reports suggest the food delivery service will first be tested in Bengaluru. A pilot launch will allow the company to fine-tune delivery operations, strengthen restaurant partnerships and gather customer feedback before expanding to other metropolitan markets.

Krishnamurthy also shared his broader view on the rapid growth of quick commerce in India. He described quick commerce as simply another retail category rather than a separate business altogether, adding that Flipkart is focused on building a sustainable business rather than chasing growth at any cost.

His comments come as companies across India’s digital economy continue to invest heavily in faster deliveries and expanded services. Consumers today increasingly expect groceries, medicines, electronics and even restaurant meals to arrive at their doorstep within minutes, prompting major platforms to diversify their offerings.

For restaurant owners, Flipkart’s entry could open another important sales channel. More competition among food delivery platforms may also improve commission structures, offer better business terms and reduce dependence on a limited number of aggregators.

Consumers, meanwhile, are likely to benefit from increased competition. Industry observers expect attractive launch offers, discounts, loyalty programmes and faster delivery options as Flipkart attempts to win customers from existing players. Rival platforms may also introduce new incentives and service improvements to retain market share.

However, analysts caution that success in the online food delivery business will depend on more than competitive pricing. Efficient delivery operations, reliable service, strong restaurant relationships and consistent customer experience will be critical in a business where profitability has historically been difficult to achieve.

Flipkart’s entry also reflects the broader convergence of e-commerce, quick commerce and food delivery, with major technology companies increasingly trying to become one-stop platforms for consumers’ everyday needs.

Backed by Walmart’s financial strength and supported by one of India’s largest logistics networks, Flipkart believes it is well positioned to compete in the next phase of the country’s digital commerce evolution.

Whether the company can break the long-standing dominance of Swiggy and Zomato remains to be seen. But with Group CEO Kalyan Krishnamurthy publicly confirming the launch and expressing confidence in Flipkart’s strategy, the battle for India’s online food delivery market is about to become significantly more competitive.

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Beyond

India eases FDI rules for e-commerce exports

In a major policy reform aimed at boosting exports, the Centre has relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms for e-commerce companies, allowing foreign-funded online platforms to own inventory for goods meant exclusively for exports. The move is being seen as the biggest easing of India’s e-commerce FDI policy in several years and is expected to strengthen the country’s export ecosystem.

The revised rules allow e-commerce companies with foreign investment to directly procure, store and export products manufactured in India. Earlier, such companies could only operate under the marketplace model, where they acted as intermediaries connecting buyers and sellers without owning the products being sold.

The government has clarified that the relaxation applies only to exports. The existing restrictions on inventory-based e-commerce for domestic retail sales remain unchanged. This means foreign-funded companies still cannot own inventory for products sold within India and must continue operating as marketplace platforms for the domestic market.

The policy change is intended to make Indian products more competitive in global markets by simplifying export operations. Allowing e-commerce companies to maintain inventory for exports is expected to reduce supply chain complexities, speed up deliveries and improve order fulfilment for international customers.

The decision is likely to benefit global e-commerce companies such as Amazon and Flipkart, which have invested heavily in India’s digital commerce sector. The revised framework enables these companies to source products directly from Indian manufacturers and exporters, store them in warehouses and sell them to overseas buyers through their global platforms.

Industry experts believe the move could significantly expand export opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), artisans and local manufacturers. Many smaller businesses often struggle with international logistics and distribution. By leveraging the infrastructure and global reach of large e-commerce companies, they could gain easier access to customers in foreign markets.

The government expects the policy to support its broader objective of increasing exports and integrating Indian businesses into global supply chains. With international demand for Indian products growing across categories such as textiles, handicrafts, electronics, home décor and engineering goods, digital commerce is emerging as an important channel for export growth.

The revised FDI norms also simplify operational processes for e-commerce companies. Under the earlier rules, firms often had to rely on third-party exporters or complex business arrangements to comply with investment regulations. The new framework allows them to manage export inventories directly, making the process more efficient and cost-effective.

Amazon welcomed the government’s decision, saying the policy would help thousands of Indian sellers and manufacturers expand their global presence. The company has been working to increase exports from India through its online marketplace and believes the revised rules will accelerate that effort.

However, trader bodies have expressed concerns over the policy. The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) has urged the government to ensure that the relaxation is used strictly for exports and does not indirectly affect India’s domestic retail market. The organisation has called for strong monitoring mechanisms to prevent misuse of the revised rules.

Experts note that the policy strikes a balance between encouraging exports and protecting domestic retailers. While it provides greater flexibility for export operations, it does not alter the government’s long-standing restrictions on inventory-led e-commerce within India.

The reform also comes as India seeks to strengthen its position in global trade and attract more investment into manufacturing and supply chains. By allowing foreign-funded e-commerce companies to play a bigger role in exports, policymakers hope to improve the country’s competitiveness in international markets while creating new opportunities for Indian businesses.

As India’s digital economy continues to expand, online platforms are expected to play an increasingly important role in connecting local manufacturers with global consumers. The latest policy change is expected to reduce export barriers, improve logistics and help Indian products reach overseas markets more efficiently.

With export-led growth becoming a key focus area, the revised FDI rules for e-commerce are expected to benefit manufacturers, exporters, online platforms and small businesses alike, while keeping domestic retail regulations unchanged. The government believes the move will strengthen India’s export capabilities and support the long-term growth of its digital commerce ecosystem.

Also Read: Shadowfax shares slide after ₹1,047 cr block deal

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Corporate

Shadowfax shares slide after ₹1,047 cr block deal

Shares of Shadowfax Technologies came under heavy selling pressure on Thursday after a ₹1,047 crore block deal changed hands in the market, triggering concerns over stake dilution and prompting investors to book profits. The stock fell as much as 7% during intraday trade before recovering some losses to close lower, making it one of the biggest laggards of the session.

According to market reports, around 1.98 crore shares, representing nearly 5.4% of the company’s equity, were traded through multiple block deals. The transactions were executed at an average price of around ₹530 per share, which was at a discount to the previous day’s closing price. The discounted sale put pressure on the stock soon after trading began.

While the identities of all buyers were not immediately disclosed, reports suggested that Flipkart, one of Shadowfax’s early investors, was among the likely sellers. Some other existing shareholders were also believed to have participated in the transaction as part of their portfolio rebalancing. However, there was no official confirmation from the company or the investors regarding the exact participants in the deal.

The block deal sparked a sharp reaction on Dalal Street, with investors interpreting the large share sale as a sign of profit booking by early backers following the company’s recent stock market debut. Analysts noted that such transactions are common after the expiry of lock-in periods, allowing early investors to monetise part of their holdings.

Despite Thursday’s decline, market experts said the block deal does not necessarily reflect the company’s operational performance or long-term growth prospects. Instead, they described it as a financial decision by existing shareholders seeking to partially exit their investment after years of holding the stock.

Shadowfax, one of India’s leading logistics and last-mile delivery companies, has built a strong presence in the fast-growing e-commerce and quick commerce sectors. The company provides delivery solutions for online retailers, direct-to-consumer brands, grocery platforms and businesses across the country.

Over the past few years, Shadowfax has expanded rapidly by leveraging technology, a large delivery partner network and increasing demand for faster deliveries. The company has benefited from the continued growth of India’s digital economy, where online shopping and hyperlocal delivery services have become increasingly popular.

Investors have closely tracked the company’s performance since its listing, viewing it as a play on India’s expanding logistics and supply chain sector. However, Thursday’s large block transaction temporarily overshadowed the company’s business fundamentals, leading to increased selling pressure during the trading session.

Market analysts explained that block deals involving large institutional investors often create short-term volatility because of the significant volume of shares changing hands at discounted prices. Such transactions can temporarily impact investor sentiment even when the company’s underlying business remains unchanged.

Some experts also pointed out that early investors, including venture capital and private equity firms, typically reduce their holdings gradually after a company goes public. These exits help investors realise returns while improving the stock’s public float and liquidity over time.

Despite the sharp fall, analysts believe Shadowfax remains well positioned to benefit from India’s growing logistics market. Rising e-commerce penetration, increasing online consumer spending and the rapid expansion of quick commerce platforms continue to drive demand for efficient delivery services across urban and semi-urban markets.

The company has also been investing in technology, automation and network expansion to strengthen its delivery capabilities. These initiatives are expected to support long-term growth as businesses increasingly rely on organised logistics providers for faster and more reliable deliveries.

For investors, Thursday’s decline serves as a reminder that large institutional stake sales can create short-term market volatility, even when there are no changes to a company’s business outlook. Analysts advise investors to focus on fundamentals such as revenue growth, profitability, competitive positioning and future expansion plans rather than reacting solely to block deal activity.

While the ₹1,047 crore block deal weighed on the stock in the near term, market participants will now watch whether fresh institutional buying emerges in the coming sessions. The company’s long-term prospects are expected to depend more on its ability to capitalise on India’s booming logistics industry than on temporary movements caused by shareholder exits.

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Categories
Technology

AI now writes 40% code at Flipkart

Flipkart is rapidly expanding its use of artificial intelligence, with nearly 40% of the company’s software code now being generated by AI, according to its Chief Product and Technology Officer.

The company is also building its own large language models (LLMs) tailored specifically for e-commerce, signalling a major shift in how India’s leading online retailer plans to use AI to improve both customer experience and internal operations.

Speaking about Flipkart’s AI strategy, the company’s technology leadership said generative AI is no longer limited to experimentation but has become an integral part of software development. Engineers increasingly rely on AI-powered coding assistants to automate repetitive programming tasks, allowing them to spend more time solving complex technical problems and building new features.

The company clarified that AI is intended to assist developers rather than replace them. Human engineers continue to review, validate and refine AI-generated code before it is deployed, ensuring quality, security and reliability.

Beyond software development, Flipkart is investing heavily in proprietary AI models designed specifically for online commerce. Unlike general-purpose language models, these systems are trained to understand shopping behaviour, product catalogues, customer queries and seller operations. The goal is to deliver more personalised recommendations, improve product discovery, enhance customer support and streamline logistics.

According to the company, building in-house AI models also offers greater control over data, improves performance for India-specific use cases and reduces dependence on external AI platforms.

Flipkart believes artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role across every stage of online retail, from inventory planning and demand forecasting to fraud detection and warehouse automation. The company is integrating AI into multiple business functions as it prepares for the next phase of digital commerce growth.

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1 Minute-Read

Flipkart minutes hits 1,000 stores in expansion push

Flipkart has crossed a major milestone in India’s fast-growing quick commerce market, with its instant delivery service Flipkart Minutes expanding to 1,000 micro-fulfilment centres in less than two years. The achievement highlights the company’s aggressive push to strengthen its presence in a sector that has become one of the fiercest battlegrounds in Indian e-commerce.

The Walmart-owned company said the rapid expansion has been driven by rising demand for quick deliveries across both large cities and smaller towns. Unlike many rivals that initially focused on metros, Flipkart has increasingly targeted consumers in Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets, where online shopping adoption continues to grow rapidly. Around 70% of its fulfilment network is now concentrated in these smaller cities.

Flipkart Minutes, which promises deliveries within minutes, has emerged as one of the fastest-growing businesses in the company’s portfolio. According to company data, order volumes have increased fivefold over the past year, while sales from smaller towns have surged dramatically as more consumers embrace quick commerce for groceries, daily essentials and other products.

The company now operates across more than 130 cities and plans to continue expanding. Reports indicate that Flipkart aims to increase its network to around 1,500 fulfilment centres in the coming months as competition intensifies.

India’s quick commerce market has witnessed explosive growth, with players such as Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart investing heavily in warehouses, logistics and customer acquisition. Global giants including Amazon and Flipkart have also accelerated their efforts to capture a larger share of the rapidly expanding sector.

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1 Minute-Read

Flipkart bolsters leadership with key tech hires

Walmart-owned Flipkart has appointed several senior leaders across its AI, fintech and engineering divisions as it looks to strengthen its technology capabilities and drive innovation.

The new executives bring experience in artificial intelligence, product development, financial technology and engineering, and will help enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.

The appointments come as competition in India’s e-commerce sector intensifies and companies increasingly invest in AI-driven solutions. Flipkart said the hires reflect its focus on building strong leadership and advancing technology-led growth as it expands its presence in India’s rapidly growing digital economy.

Categories
Beyond

FSSAI issues notices to KFC, Nestlé and Flipkart

India’s food safety regulator has issued notices to three major brands , KFC India, Nestlé India and Flipkart, following consumer complaints related to food hygiene and alleged pest contamination.

The action was taken by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India after complaints were received through the National Consumer Helpline. The regulator said the notices were issued to seek responses from the companies regarding grievances raised by consumers.

According to reports, the complaints involved concerns about hygiene standards and the presence of foreign objects or pests in food products supplied or sold through the companies. While the exact details of individual complaints have not been publicly disclosed, the regulator has asked the firms to investigate the issues and provide explanations.

The move highlights growing scrutiny of food safety practices as authorities seek to strengthen consumer protection and improve confidence in food products and services. FSSAI regularly monitors complaints received through various channels and can seek clarification from companies when concerns are raised about product quality or safety.

The notices do not amount to a finding of wrongdoing. They are part of the regulator’s process of examining complaints and gathering information before deciding whether any further action is required. The companies concerned may respond with details of their internal investigations, quality-control procedures and corrective measures, if any.

Consumer complaints relating to food quality, packaging and contamination have increasingly come under the spotlight as online food delivery and e-commerce platforms expand their reach across the country. Regulators have stressed the importance of maintaining strict safety standards throughout the supply chain, from manufacturing and storage to delivery.

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