Zepto

Zepto’s bet is that faster fulfillment can improve both customer retention and unit economics by increasing order density per store and labor efficiency per rider. To support this, the company has built a network of more than 1K dark stores across India’s largest cities, using routing software and demand forecasting to keep average delivery times near 10 minutes. Since 2022, Zepto has moved beyond groceries into pharmacy, prepared food through Zepto Café, and household goods, with each category designed to increase order frequency and store utilization. In 2025, the company also launched Zepto Atom, a subscription analytics tool for brands, and expanded its retail media offering, creating higher-margin revenue streams alongside commerce. The model remains unproven at national scale, but Zepto’s expansion shows how rapid delivery can evolve from a single-product service into a broader platform for daily essentials.