Zepto Café Surpasses 100,000 Daily Orders, Approaching $100M GMV—A New Era in India’s QSR Industry

In a remarkable achievement, Zepto Café, the rapid food delivery arm of quick commerce unicorn Zepto, has reached a milestone of 100,000 daily orders. Launched in December 2024, the platform is now on the verge of attaining an annualized Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of $100 million, as announced by co-founder and CEO Aadit Palicha.

Zepto Cafe’s Rapid Growth Trajectory

Zepto Café’s ascent has been swift and impressive.

• December 2024: Launch with 30,000 daily orders.
• January 2025: Orders surpass 50,000 daily, marking a 60% month-on-month growth.
• Early February 2025: Daily orders reach 75,000, indicating a 50% month-on-month increase.
• Late February 2025: Orders hit the 100,000 mark.

This rapid expansion positions Zepto Café at over 10% of the scale of leading Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chains in India, a notable feat for a newcomer in the industry.

Financial Milestone

The surge in daily orders has propelled Zepto Café towards a projected annualized GMV of $100 million, with a steady-state gross margin nearing 50%. This financial momentum underscores the platform’s growing influence in the quick commerce sector.

Competitive Landscape

The quick food delivery market in India is witnessing intensified competition:

• Blinkit’s Bistro: Backed by Zomato, experiencing significant growth.
• Swiggy’s Bolt: Launched in October 2024, now contributing 9% to Swiggy’s food delivery volumes, up by 5% since November.
• Magicpin’s MagicNOW: Accounts for nearly 10% of the platform’s food delivery orders, with higher customer satisfaction leading to increased repeat orders.

These developments highlight a broader trend towards rapid food delivery services in the Indian market.

Industry Challenges

The rise of quick food delivery services has sparked concerns among restaurant associations, such as the National Restaurant Association of India and the Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India. Allegations against major food aggregators include withholding consumer data, engaging in private labeling, breaching trust with restaurant partners, and exploiting market dominance. These issues point to the complex dynamics and challenges within the evolving food delivery ecosystem.

Conclusion

Zepto Café’s rapid growth to 100,000 daily orders and its approach towards a $100 million GMV run-rate signify a transformative shift in India’s QSR landscape. As the quick food delivery sector continues to expand, both opportunities and challenges will shape its future trajectory.