In This Economy: 10 Minutes Or Bust — The Dark Side Of Fast Groceries

Happy Tuesday, Readers!

So, the RBI pulled a surprise last week — cutting the repo rate by 50 basis points to 5.5%. That’s the third cut since February, and it’s pretty clear they’re going all out to give the economy a push. Markets liked it, and so did everyone rooting for a recovery.

But while the economy might be getting a breather, things aren’t as smooth in the quick-commerce lane. 

The Maharashtra FDA just shut down a Blinkit dark store in Pune’s Baner-Balewadi area for running without a valid licence. And this isn’t a one-off. Earlier this month, Zepto’s parent company got hit too — their license was suspended after lapses were found at a dark store in Mumbai’s Dharavi.

The crackdown is part of the FDA’s drive to clean up food storage practices across the state. Because, hey, fast groceries are great — but not at the cost of safety.

On to this week's newsletter

We all love the magic of tapping a button and having groceries (or pretty much anything) show up at our doorstep in what feels like a blink. Quick commerce is now the way to shop—especially in cities where time is the ultimate currency.

But here’s a question we don’t ask often enough: Where exactly is all this stuff coming from so fast?

Welcome to the world of dark stores—those hidden mini-warehouses sprinkled across cities, packed with everyday essentials, manned by busy pickers, and optimised for speed above all else.

Dark stores are often crammed into tight spaces—think back rooms of old buildings, converted garages, or small commercial units. They’re not your typical shiny supermarket setups with bright lighting and regulated air conditioning.

That might be fine for packaged snacks or soap, but when it comes to fresh produce, dairy, or meat, poor storage = big problems. Reports are surfacing of wilting greens, leaking milk packets, and questionable hygiene standards. Not to mention, stuffing perishables into poorly ventilated spaces is a food safety red flag.

Even if items leave the dark store in decent condition, there’s still the race against potholes and chaos on the road. Delivery riders, often under immense pressure to meet tight timeframes, sometimes end up with damaged goods—and frustrated customers.

And here’s the real kicker: this system doesn’t just hit your fridge. It’s also hurting brand reputations, especially for FMCG companies whose products arrive looking less than fresh.

The good news? Agencies like the FDA and FSSAI have taken note. Surprise inspections of dark stores are reportedly on the rise across India, aiming to keep tabs on how food is stored, packaged, and shipped.

Still, with the sheer number of pop-up warehouses multiplying, enforcement is playing catch-up.

Qcomm is no longer just about late-night ice cream cravings or forgotten groceries — it’s becoming a valuable window into how India shops and spends in real time. 

With platforms like Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, and BigBasket seeing millions of daily orders, the government is now looking to tap into this data as it updates the base year for GDP and other key stats. 

Why? Because these platforms capture everyday consumption patterns across cities and income groups, offering a more dynamic, ground-level view of economic activity than traditional retail alone. 

We’re not saying fast delivery is doomed. Far from it. But here’s a wild idea: what if we prioritised quality and safety just as much as speed? Because honestly, a few extra minutes is worth it if it means your eggs aren’t scrambled before they hit the pan.

• Obesity drugs pick pace in India — Can the consumption sector withstand a $21 billion disruption? Sajeet Mangat asks.

• Flipkart, Meesho and other e-commerce giants are to face legal action for selling unsafe and uncertified products, Sesa Sen reports.

• India plans to explore a rare-earth mineral push with Central Asian nations to counter China's monopoly, reports Rishabh Bhatnagar.

• SEBI may issue more orders against IndusInd Bank beyond the insider trading case, sources tell Charu Singh.

• Rapido eyes a completely new platform for the food delivery business. Agnidev reports exclusively for NDTV Profit.

Donald Trump and Elon Musk's bromance spectacularly imploded after barely six months of playing nice. The writing was on the wall from day one, wasn't it?

Washington insiders were already placing bets on when their alliance would crumble, and frankly, it lasted longer than most expected. Musk, who'd essentially bought Trump the presidency by bankrolling his 2024 comeback, decided to torpedo the relationship by publicly slamming the president's flagship tax reforms. The Tesla chief attacked Trump on social media, claiming credit for Trump's victory and even dragging Jeffrey Epstein into the mess.

But here's where it gets properly juicy—markets don't give a toss about political theatre when billions are at stake. Musk's meltdown wiped a staggering $153 billion off Tesla's value in a single day, with his personal fortune cratering by $34 billion. Suddenly, the man who'd been threatening to idle SpaceX missions went remarkably quiet as reality bit hard.

Here's the timeline of how the dramatic event unfolded.

Until next week,

This is Shrimi signing off...