Walmart’s Flipkart on Tuesday announced plans to offer 90-minute deliveries for groceries and home accessories, as the online retailer tries to gain an edge over rivals Amazon.com Inc and local rival JioMart as they fight for a larger share of the growing Indian retail market.
Through Flipkart Quick, its hyperlocal service, Flipkart will also sell mobile phones and stationery items besides groceries, against Amazon’s quick-delivery service that mainly offers just groceries.
Flipkart Quick will debut in select locations in Bengaluru, the company said, without specifying a launch date.
Besides Amazon, Bengaluru-based Flipkart will also go up against Alibaba-backed e-commerce firm BigBasket and new online grocer JioMart.
“Halfway through the year of the pandemic, supply chains have transformed drastically,” Flipkart said in a statement. “The hyperlocal category, known for being a convenience for many, has now emerged to be a long-term essential service for the country.”
The grocery category is considered the backbone of the Indian retail business and the fight among online retailers s for control of the grocery market.
Flipkart is already armed with Walmart’s local cash-and-carry business to strengthen its wholesale offerings to local stores.
All the three e-commerce, including Flikart, Amaon and JioMart, are now vying to have a better hold on local kirana stores as consumers turn to online retailers, particularly during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ambani’, it seems to have edged out Amazon in the fight to acquire the retail business of Kishore Biyani’s Future Group.