Amazon Fresh has expanded its online grocery service to more than 50 cities in India, up from 22 a year ago, according to Srikant Sree Ram, director of Amazon Fresh. The company aims to provide a wider range of full basket products and penetrate deeper into the Indian market. The platform was launched in 2007 as an add-on service for Prime members, and later pivoted to launch Amazon Pantry in 2016, before discontinuing it to become hyperlocal with Amazon Fresh in 2021. Amazon Fresh offers free delivery on orders above INR249 ($3.33) to its Prime members. The Indian online grocery delivery market was valued at $2.9bn in 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 37.1% by 2028, according to Grand View Research.
Blinkit, which is owned by Zomato, has been experiencing disruptions due to protests by its delivery personnel. The protests were sparked by the company’s decision to reduce delivery fees from INR 50 to INR 14 per order. As a result of the protests, around 100 of Blinkit’s dark stores have been closed. The company has introduced a new payout structure that compensates its partners based on their effort to deliver an order, and this is an opt-in exercise. The company is engaging with its partners to address their concerns and get the stores back up and running for customers.According to a Blinkit spokesperson, the company has introduced a new payout structure for its partners that compensates them based on their effort to deliver an order. This payout structure is optional for partners to participate in. The company’s teams are currently on the ground to address any questions or concerns that its partners may have. The spokesperson believes that the new payout structure is a positive step for Blinkit’s partner ecosystem, as it is fair to both partners and customers. Although some locations have experienced disruptions, the company is actively working with its partners to get the stores back up and running for its customers.