Delhivery CEO Sahil Barua: Quick Commerce Impacting Kirana Stores, Not E-commerce

Delhivery CEO Sahil Barua discussed the impact of quick commerce on traditional retail, particularly Kirana stores. As per Economic Times, Barua believes that while 10-15 minute deliveries are sustainable for groceries and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), they may not be viable in the long run for other categories due to the high costs involved. He pointed out that quick commerce is more of a threat to local Kirana stores than to the broader e-commerce market.
Barua also spoke about Delhivery’s strategy, highlighting that the company is launching a network of shared dark stores to enable 2-4 hour deliveries but will steer clear of instant deliveries. Despite slow revenue growth in recent quarters due to market conditions, Barua remains optimistic, focusing on the efficiency gains in Delhivery’s part-truck load (PTL) business, which has contributed to improved profitability. He also welcomed the trend of startups going public, emphasizing the importance of long-term value for stakeholders.