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THE TRUTH ABOUT: Zepto - The Untold Story

India's festive season promises strong show as quick commerce reshapes online shopping battle

India’s festive e-commerce season is expected to deliver healthy spending growth, with premium purchases coexisting with aggressive bargain-hunting. Quick commerce is expanding beyond groceries, non-metro India is driving online demand, and AI is increasingly shaping how consumers discover and buy products.

The Economic Times

A French giant heads back to India after 12 years with bigger bets

Carrefour is back in India, but it is not rebuilding the hypermarket business it abandoned in 2014. This time, the French retailer is betting on smaller stores, local products, private labels and eventually quick commerce—taking on Reliance, DMart, Blinkit and others with profitability, rather than scale alone, at the centre…

The Economic Times

India’s IPO party is in full swing. Just don’t mistake debut-day gains for a winning bet

August saw twenty companies raise over twenty-one thousand crore rupees. Listing-day returns have significantly increased from a discount to a premium. Investors should not treat initial public offerings as lottery tickets. Thorough due diligence is essential to identify strong businesses and avoid duds. Analyzing financials, valuation, and offer details helps…

The Economic Times

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Sugar shortage bites: Retailers cap purchases, prices surge 29% ahead of Raksha Bandhan

Major retailers are limiting sugar purchases to three kilograms per customer. Quick commerce platforms also restrict sugar sales to a few packs. This comes as sugar supplies tighten before the Raksha Bandhan festival. Government-approved raw sugar imports aim to ease the tight stock situation. Prices have risen significantly and are…

The Economic Times

Flipkart Minutes overtakes Swiggy Instamart in dark stores across top 10 cities

The gap is narrow but significant, pointing to the rapid expansion of Flipkart's quick-commerce business even as established players continue to deepen their networks. The 10 cities together account for 3,536 dark stores, according to CLSA's Quick Commerce Map, with Blinkit leading at 969 stores, followed by Zepto at 828,…

The Economic Times

Zepto IPO: Raamdeo Agrawal says it was premature for the quick-commerce firm to tap public market. Here’s why

Market veteran Raamdeo Agrawal has called Zepto’s IPO plans premature after the quick-commerce firm deferred its proposed listing amid valuation concerns. Zepto is reportedly discussing a valuation of $2.5-3 billion, sharply below its $7 billion private valuation. Agrawal said companies should tap public markets only when profitable or close to…

The Economic Times

Maharashtra food safety chief targets Domino's, Eternal, Swiggy, Zepto in sweeping crackdown

Maharashtra's food safety chief has taken decisive action by suspending warehouse permits for leading grocery companies after inspectors uncovered alarming sanitation issues, including cockroach infestations. This effort specifically addresses challenges within the burgeoning quick commerce sector known for swift grocery deliveries. Notably, several Domino's stores were also shut down for…

The Economic Times

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India state food safety chief targets Eternal, Swiggy, Zepto in sweeping crackdown, suspends permits of 12 warehouses

Maharashtra's food safety chief has taken action by suspending 12 warehouses' permits for grocery giants including Eternal, Swiggy and Zepto after inspections exposed disturbing health violations such as cockroach infestations and spoiled produce. Moreover, inspectors uncovered rodent waste and unhygienic storage practices, while delivery personnel wearing street shoes increased contamination…

The Economic Times

Flipkart, Amazon, Meesho top list of e-commerce firms facing most complaints on NCH in 2025

Flipkart and Amazon received the highest number of consumer complaints in 2025. Meesho and Myntra also featured prominently on the list of e-commerce platforms. The National Consumer Helpline facilitated over 91 crore in refunds to consumers. Non-delivery of products constituted the largest category of complaints filed. The government has taken…

The Economic Times

Karnataka tightens food safety rules as hotel inspections uncover tonnes of unsafe food

Karnataka has issued a detailed food-safety advisory for hotels, restaurants, caterers and food businesses amid intensified inspections across Bengaluru. The guidelines mandate strict hygiene, safe storage, temperature controls, food-handler health checks, pest control and proper waste disposal. The move follows recent inspections that found large quantities of expired, rotten and…

The Economic Times

FSSAI tightens pan masala packaging rules, bans plastic and plastic-laminated pouches

FSSAI has banned plastic-based packaging for pan masala under new regulations. These rules, effective from their publication, mandate paper or naturally derived materials. Tin and glass containers are also permitted packaging options for the product. This amendment aligns with broader FSSAI efforts to enhance food safety compliance nationwide. The regulator…

The Economic Times

Zepto warehouse sealed in Bengaluru over food safety violations

Bengaluru authorities sealed a Zepto warehouse for hygiene and labeling violations. The Food Safety Department conducted inspections following numerous public complaints. Hotels also faced scrutiny, with expired products and unhygienic storage discovered. Over one hundred kilograms of food articles were seized from several establishments. This enforcement drive now extends to…

The Economic Times

Festive demand set to lift FMCG growth, but margins face pressure

Consumer demand in India is expected to strengthen during the upcoming festive season. Companies face rising input costs and intense competition from quick-commerce platforms. Improving purchasing power supports this positive outlook for consumer spending. However, businesses must adapt to premiumization and digital shifts in consumption. Sustained growth hinges on margin…

The Economic Times

Investors slash Zepto’s valuation, delaying India IPO plans

Zepto has deferred its highly anticipated IPO after domestic investors proposed a 68% valuation cut, valuing the rapid-commerce firm at $2.3 billion against its earlier $7.2 billion unlisted valuation. Facing market skepticism over loss-making startups, the company will now raise capital privately before attempting a public listing.

The Economic Times

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The Economic Times

ETtech Explainer: Inside Zepto's IPO U-turn

Zepto has paused its IPO and plans to refile its draft papers after two to three quarters. The decision follows months of valuation negotiations, investor pushback and shifting market conditions. Here's a look at the key events, from its confidential filing to the final decision, that led to the pause.

The Economic Times

Zepto defers its IPO; Urban Company slips into the red

Zepto has decided to pause its IPO amid pricing concerns. This and more in today's ETtech Top 5.

The Economic Times

Zepto IPO hurdle revives investor interest in Swiggy, Eternal; shares set for best month in years

Swiggy and Eternal shares have rallied sharply in July as investors reassess the competitive landscape following Zepto's IPO valuation reset. Swiggy has gained nearly 24%, marking its best monthly performance since listing, while Eternal is up 17%, its strongest monthly rise in over two years.

The Economic Times

Zepto may defer IPO; Festive carts go premium

Happy Thursday! A roadblock in valuation negotiations may prompt Zepto to delay its listing. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.

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The Economic Times

Zepto may hit pause on IPO; BigBasket’s losses rise

Quick commerce company Zepto may defer its listing plans as negotiations over its valuation hit a roadblock. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

The Economic Times

Swiggy shares jump 8%, rally 15% in 3 days. What's boosting investor sentiment?

Swiggy shares climbed significantly, extending recent gains for a third consecutive session. Nandita Sinha, former Myntra CEO, now leads Swiggy's Instamart business.This appointment occurs amid intense competition in India's quick commerce sector. Meanwhile, Zepto is reportedly negotiating its IPO pricing at a lower valuation.The company may defer its listing if…

The Economic Times

BigBasket’s losses widen in FY26, revenue rises 7.7% YoY

This comes weeks after Amazon veteran Amit Nanda joined BigBasket as the new chief executive after founder Hari Menon stepped down. Nanda has been tasked with making the business profitable amid mounting pressure on margins in the quick commerce sector.

The Economic Times

MFs push back on Zepto valuation; PEs take AI bets

Happy Monday! Zepto's IPO pricing expectation has run into resistance from top mutual funds. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.

The Economic Times

IPO Buzz: Over a dozen firms, including Zepto set for debut next month

Next month is set to see a flurry of IPO activity as over a dozen companies plan to launch their share offerings. Collectively, these IPOs are projected to raise in excess of twenty-five thousand crore rupees. Notable players like Zepto and Shiprocket are among the front-runners, and with investor confidence…

The Economic Times

Zepto IPO anchor book nears closure; Norges, Motilal Oswal may take 40-45%

In a notable financial move, major investors like Norges and Motilal Oswal are expressing a keen interest in Zepto's upcoming initial public offering, which is valued at approximately Rs 11,000 crore. The anchor book is approaching its closure, with these investors poised to capture a substantial share. Zepto's valuation for…

The Economic Times

Zepto may downsize IPO; Tata's legacy chip bet

Zepto is considering slashing the size of its public issue amid pushback from domestic investors. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

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