Reliance JioMart’s Aggressive Quick Commerce Expansion Challenges Blinkit and Zepto
India’s quick commerce sector, known for ultra-fast delivery of groceries and essentials within minutes, is witnessing intense competition. Reliance Industries’ e-commerce platform, JioMart, has emerged as a formidable contender, positioning itself to disrupt market leaders like Blinkit (owned by Zomato) and Zepto.
In its Q3 FY26 (October-December 2025) investor presentation, Reliance disclosed that JioMart achieved a daily order run rate of approximately 1.6 million by the end of December 2025. This marks a remarkable 53% quarter-on-quarter growth and over 360% year-on-year increase in average daily orders. The platform added about 5.9 million new customers during the quarter, with users reportedly transacting roughly twice as frequently compared to competitors.
Reliance claims this performance places JioMart as India’s second-largest quick commerce player by order volume, trailing only Blinkit (which averaged around 2.4 million daily orders based on prior disclosures) and ahead of Swiggy Instamart (approximately 1.1-1.3 million) and Zepto (in a similar range). The company operates across more than 1,000 cities and over 5,000 pincodes, leveraging a network of 3,000+ retail stores repurposed for fulfillment alongside dedicated dark stores.
A key differentiator for JioMart is its hybrid model, blending dedicated dark stores with Reliance Retail’s vast physical infrastructure. By the end of the December quarter, the platform had expanded to around 800 dark stores, up significantly from earlier periods. This approach enables broader reach—particularly into Tier-II and Tier-III cities—while potentially reducing costs through existing sourcing and logistics advantages. Reliance further noted that its quick commerce operations reached contribution-margin positive status, signaling improving unit economics amid heavy industry spending on discounts and expansion.
The quick commerce market in India continues to boom, driven by urban demand for instant access to groceries, snacks, and daily essentials. Blinkit maintains leadership with strong penetration in metros, high average order values, and optimized 10-minute delivery promises. Zepto appeals to younger users with emphasis on speed and aggressive promotions, while Swiggy Instamart benefits from its parent company’s food delivery ecosystem.
JioMart’s advantages stem from Reliance’s scale: integration with the Jio telecom user base, extensive procurement power for competitive pricing and private labels, and potential to cross-sell into categories like electronics and fashion. This entry intensifies pressure on rivals, potentially leading to margin squeezes and accelerated innovation across the board. Analysts highlight that while pure dark-store models excel in dense urban areas for sub-10-minute deliveries, JioMart’s hybrid strategy could dominate in wider geographies.
Challenges persist, including matching competitors’ delivery speed consistency in high-density zones and refining app experience. The sector remains characterized by “irrational” competition, with heavy discounting to capture market share.
As Reliance sustains its momentum, the coming quarters will test whether JioMart can narrow the gap with Blinkit and reshape the quick commerce landscape in India. The battle for dominance in this high-growth segment is far from over, with implications for consumers, retailers, and investors alike.
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