The proceedings are still in the initial review phase, during which the commission is gathering evidence to determine if a full probe is warranted.
The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has reportedly sought additional information from a petitioner alleging anti-competitive practices by quick commerce players Zepto, Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart during its ongoing review of a plea.
An NDTV Profit report, citing people close to the matter, said that the CCI has asked the petitioner to provide further inputs on claims relating to market dominance, pricing strategies and operational practices of the three companies.
The petition was filed in March by the FMCG distributors’ body. The matter had originated when the members of All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation alleged that Zepto, Blinkit and Instamart engaged in practices that could restrict competition in the quick commerce segment.
The CCI initially sought AICPDF for details on the relevant market share of each of the quick commerce players in April.
While the CCI has not yet ordered a formal investigation, sources told NDTV Profit, the commission will consider an application to inspect company records after reviewing the fresh submissions from the petitioner. The proceedings are still in the initial review phase, during which the commission is gathering evidence to determine if a full probe is warranted.
In May, the CCI also notified new rules for determining the “cost” of goods and services to effectively evaluate alleged predatory pricing practices in ecommerce and quick commerce sectors.
Blinkit’s senior vice president (SVP) Anish Srivastava said that the number of dark stores in the country would hover in the range of 15,000 to 20,000 in the next two years, in a Farmley event, about a month ago. During the event, he also said that “for all practical purposes”, the top 200 cities in India would transition to quick commerce from ecommerce by 2027, on the back of rising adoption of quick commerce in non-metros cities.
As adoption grows further on the back of digital-savvy consumers and rising internet penetration, the Indian quick commerce segment is projected to become a $40 Bn market by 2030.
Source: Inc42
