BigBasket Joins the Quick Bite Race
Tata-backed BigBasket is stepping into the 10-minute food delivery segment, piloting its new service — Meal Express — in Bengaluru. The company plans to scale the service across 40 dark stores by July 2025 and aims for a nationwide rollout by the end of FY26.
Rather than collaborating with external restaurants, BigBasket is banking on a vertically integrated model that leverages its own dark store network and curated offerings. The service will focus on delivering ready-to-eat snacks and beverages exclusively from Tata Group brands such as Starbucks and Qmin.
BigBasket’s entry comes at a time when the quick food delivery space is facing headwinds. Zepto, despite reaching 1 lakh daily orders in February 2025, has pulled out from several tier II and III cities. Meanwhile, Eternal has shuttered its ‘Instant’ and ‘Quick’ services due to weak demand.
What sets BigBasket apart is its use of in-house brands, allowing it to bypass third-party restaurant commissions and maintain competitive pricing. This model also enables more consistent product quality and reliable service — challenges that have long plagued aggregator platforms managing multiple restaurant partners.
The launch aligns with BigBasket’s larger ambitions, as the company prepares for a public listing within the next 18 to 24 months. Its quick commerce growth and strategic integration within the Tata digital ecosystem are expected to be key drivers of this IPO trajectory.
With an existing network of 700 dark stores and a target of 1,200 by the end of 2025, BigBasket appears well-positioned on the infrastructure front. However, with several rivals scaling down or exiting the segment, the critical test lies in whether the brand can achieve sustainable growth in the 10-minute delivery space — without burning out.
