Even though startups such as BigBasket have experimented with the dark stores in the past, the model never gained wide traction in India, unlike the West
But the Covid-19 pandemic and the increased focus on on-demand hyperlocal capabilities in the essentials space has made dark stores more viable for startups despite the relatively higher costs
Will India’s hyperlocal delivery players and consumer brands gravitate towards dark stores despite some of the drawbacks to meet consumer demand or will kiranas step in to bridge the gap?