how to Build an India’s Last-Minute Grocery Delivery App like Blinkit in 2025

Blinkit: India’s Last-Minute Delivery App Success Story

Marketed as “India’s last-minute delivery app,” Blinkit has rapidly become a significant player in the country's eCommerce space. Initially known as Grofers until 2021, this delivery service launched its journey in 2013 and was eventually acquired by Zomato in 2022.

In direct competition with Swiggy’s Instamart, Blinkit faces growing challenges from emerging startups like Zepto—a soonicorn—and Dunzo, which is backed by Reliance. Despite this, Blinkit and Instamart remain the dominant players in the Indian rapid delivery market.

What is Blinkit?

Blinkit is a leading Indian rapid delivery service, formerly known as Grofers. Founded in 2013 by Albinder Dhindsa and Saurabh Kumar, Blinkit operates in over 23 cities across India, including Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Delhi, Gurugram, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Vadodara.

Offering an extensive catalog of 7,000+ items, Blinkit delivers groceries, fruits, vegetables, personal care products, and household items. The company began its operations in Delhi NCR but now covers a nationwide network of cities.

In 2021, Grofers rebranded as Blinkit and transitioned to an inventory-based business model to streamline its operations and improve delivery speed.

Zomato’s Acquisition of Blinkit

On June 24, 2022, Zomato announced the acquisition of Blinkit through an all-stock deal, valued at $568 million, completing the purchase by August 10, 2022. Following the acquisition, consumers can now place orders from Blinkit through the Zomato app, in addition to Blinkit’s dedicated website and mobile app.

Blinkit vs Instamart: India’s Grocery Delivery Battle

In the ever-competitive food and grocery delivery sector, Zomato and Swiggy are the two main rivals. While Blinkit emphasizes lightning-fast, under-10-minute delivery, Instamart focuses more on product quality, packaging, and coverage area.

Blinkit’s dedicated website ensures a streamlined user experience, setting it apart from Instamart, which operates only within the Swiggy ecosystem.

Blinkit’s Business Model

The Original Model

Initially, Blinkit (previously Grofers) employed a hyperlocal delivery model that connected buyers, local sellers, and delivery teams:

Buyers: Catering to a range of customers, including professionals, elderly individuals, and students seeking convenience.

Local Sellers: Collaborating with small vendors to expand market reach, Blinkit charged an 8-15% commission for its services.

Delivery Teams: Specific agents were assigned to neighborhoods for rapid deliveries.

The Shift to an Inventory-Based Model

To enhance service speed and quality, Blinkit transitioned to an inventory-based model. Under this new system, products are sent to local warehouses for quality checks before being delivered to customers, reducing errors and ensuring quicker, more reliable service.

How Does Blinkit Work?

Blinkit partners with vendors located within 2 kilometers of its customers to ensure fast delivery. Orders are prepared in under two minutes and typically delivered in approximately 10 minutes, depending on conditions like weather or traffic.

Revenue Model

Blinkit generates revenue by charging vendors a commission of 8-15% and investing in both new and established brands to expand its reach and offerings.

How to Build an App Like Blinkit

If you’re inspired by Blinkit’s success and want to create a similar rapid delivery platform, here’s how you can get started:

1. Define Your Value Proposition

Determine what will set your service apart. Blinkit prioritizes speed, but you can create a competitive edge by offering additional features like premium packaging or 24/7 availability.

2. Select Products to Deliver

Start with a specific product range and expand gradually based on market demand and user feedback.

3. Choose the Right Technology Stack

Select the right tools and frameworks for the front-end, back-end, databases, and security. Collaborate with a skilled development team to implement the technologies effectively.

4. Build and Test Your App

Develop an app with:

Admin Panel: To manage business operations.

Customer App: For users to browse and place orders.

Vendor Panel: Allowing vendors to manage inventory and visibility.

Conduct thorough testing to ensure the app offers a bug-free experience.

5. Launch Your App

Consider launching a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) to test the market. Gather user feedback to refine the app before the full launch.

Conclusion

Blinkit’s rapid rise in the eCommerce and delivery services market demonstrates the potential of instant delivery models. Its acquisition by Zomato highlights the platform’s significance in the industry. As the grocery delivery sector continues to grow, entrepreneurs can learn valuable lessons from Blinkit’s journey to build their own successful instant delivery apps.