Ecommerce
Blinkit raises dark-store target to 3,500 by March 2027
Eternal lifts goal from 3,000 after 2,751 stores and 308 net adds in Q2; smaller-city paybacks now look viable for riders and dark-store operators.
Ananya Rao, Editor··4 min read
Blinkit now plans faster rollout into smaller cities and newer categories after management said store economics and competition have become more predictable. The company expects mature outlets to offset drag from new ones and keep margins improving.
On the shop floor this means denser dark-store grids and shorter rider radii. A kirana competing on 10-minute milk and snacks faces more SKUs arriving from a 3,000-plus sq ft hub rather than a distant warehouse. Till systems and inventory turns tighten as assortment widens beyond groceries.
Smaller cities now deliver paybacks comparable to metros, management said.
Zepto and Instamart feel the squeeze on order share; Blinkit already led September volumes at 40.2 per cent. Reliance’s JioMart dark-store push and Amazon Now also compete for the same pin codes and delivery talent.
Watch Q3 store adds and festive NOV through Diwali. Eternal’s next shareholder update and March 2027 milestone will show if smaller-city paybacks hold without margin reset.