BigBasket: Navigating the Future of Grocery E-commerce in 2024
August 16, 2025
Industry: Ecommerce
In 2025, BigBasket is fighting to stay ahead in India’s fast-changing grocery e-commerce market. With declining turnover and widening losses, the Tata-owned startup is betting on quick commerce, dark store expansion, sustainability through EV logistics, and an ambitious IPO. Here’s how BigBasket is reshaping itself for the future.
Executive Summary
BigBasket, once the undisputed leader in online groceries, is recalibrating its strategy in 2025. The company is under pressure from rivals like Blinkit, Zepto, and Instamart, who dominate the quick-commerce space. Its revenue has slipped, and losses have grown, forcing a pivot towards faster delivery, green logistics, IPO readiness, and diversification beyond groceries. The next two years could define BigBasket’s long-term survival.
Performance Highlights in 2025
- Turnover Decline: In FY25, BigBasket’s B2C turnover fell by 3% to around ₹7,673 crore.
- Losses Widening: Losses increased from approximately ₹1,267 crore in FY24 to ₹1,851 crore in FY25.
- B2B Slowdown: Turnover in its wholesale division dropped by 7% to around ₹2,227 crore.
- Market Share Pressure: Quick-commerce players now command over 80% of instant grocery delivery, leaving BigBasket behind in consumer preference for speed.
Strategic Moves to Reclaim Growth
Quick Commerce Expansion
BigBasket has shifted focus from scheduled grocery delivery to quick commerce. Pilots of 10-minute food and grocery delivery are being scaled rapidly, with a target of over 1,000 dark stores by the end of 2025. This transition is critical to meeting consumer expectations for speed and convenience.
Sustainability and EV Logistics
The company is expanding its electric vehicle delivery fleet, now operational across 50+ cities. This reduces costs, ensures compliance with sustainability goals, and strengthens its positioning as an environmentally responsible player.
IPO Ambitions
BigBasket aims for a public listing within 18–24 months. The IPO is expected to provide fresh capital, increase brand visibility, and strengthen competitive positioning. Preparations include improving operational efficiencies, expanding city coverage, and showcasing new revenue verticals.
Diversification of Offerings
To reduce dependency on groceries, BigBasket is entering categories like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and ready-to-eat meals. By broadening its portfolio, it hopes to capture larger wallet share from its customer base.
Capital Strategy
Unlike competitors raising frequent external rounds, BigBasket is leveraging internal Tata Group funding to fuel its next growth phase. This provides stability but also increases the pressure to deliver profitable results sooner.
Growth Story and Legacy
Founded in 2011, BigBasket was the pioneer of online grocery delivery in India. It grew by building a strong supply chain, investing in warehouses, and acquiring delivery startups to strengthen last-mile capability. By 2022, the platform was processing over 15 million monthly orders.
After Tata Digital acquired a majority stake, BigBasket gained the financial muscle to expand aggressively. While it held market leadership for years, consumer preference has shifted toward quick commerce, creating the need for this strategic reset.
Strengths and Weaknesses
| Category | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Brand Positioning | Early mover advantage, trusted nationwide | Losing relevance in quick commerce |
| Infrastructure | Strong supply chain, cold chain, warehouses | Dark store rollout still catching up |
| Backing | Financially secure under Tata Digital | Dependence on Tata capital, limited flexibility |
| Growth Plans | IPO ambitions, diversification into new areas | Heavy cash burn and uncertain profitability |
| Sustainability | EV logistics expansion across cities | High upfront costs for scale |
Outlook for 2025 and Beyond
- Quick Commerce as the Core Battlefield
BigBasket must aggressively expand dark stores to compete with Blinkit and Zepto. Success will depend on execution speed and consumer adoption. - IPO as a Catalyst
A public offering can provide funds and visibility but will also expose the company to quarterly performance pressure. - Diversification Advantage
Expanding into adjacent verticals—electronics, pharma, fashion—can reduce grocery dependence and improve margins. - Sustainability Edge
Green delivery initiatives not only cut costs but also strengthen BigBasket’s appeal to conscious consumers. - Execution Risks
Despite bold plans, the company faces the risk of spreading too thin and losing focus. Competing against nimble rivals in quick commerce while preparing for IPO will test management discipline.
Conclusion
In 2025, BigBasket stands at a turning point. Once the trailblazer of grocery e-commerce, it now competes in a market shaped by instant delivery. Falling turnover and rising losses have forced it to adapt aggressively—through quick commerce, diversification, EV logistics, and an IPO roadmap. The strategy is clear, but execution will decide whether BigBasket reclaims leadership or becomes a secondary player in India’s booming online grocery sector.
