Quick Commerce: Kirana Shops to Be Wiped Off

Kirana shops, once a staple in every neighborhood, are now facing fierce competition from quick-commerce platforms.

These platforms, which promise delivery within 10 minutes, are quickly gaining popularity due to their convenience and attractive offers.

As a result, nearly 2 lakh Kirana stores have shut down in the past decade, and their sales are declining as more consumers turn to online platforms for shopping.

Quick-commerce companies are expected to capture significant sales from traditional Kirana stores. In just one year, these platforms could generate around Rs. 10,700 crore (about $1.28 billion) in sales.

A survey found that nearly half of quick-commerce users now buy fewer items from Kirana stores, and 67% of store owners report lower sales.

With 82% of consumers now making at least a quarter of their purchases online, traditional Kirana stores are struggling to keep up.

While quick-commerce is booming, challenges in e-commerce sales and reduced consumer spending are also affecting Kirana stores.

Major companies like Dabur, Marico, HUL, and Godrej are adapting to this shift by focusing more on online retail and reducing their reliance on traditional distribution networks.

However, experts believe that stockists cannot be fully replaced because quick-commerce platforms have limited inventory.

To stay competitive, companies are strengthening both their e-commerce presence and relationships with traditional stores.