10 Minutes to Your Door. But At What Cost?

The rise of instant delivery platforms like Zepto and BlinkIt has revolutionised urban consumption, promising groceries at your doorstep in under 10 minutes. However, increasing reports of employee dissatisfaction and poor hygiene in so-called dark stores — the warehouses where goods are stored and packed — have raised serious questions. These facilities are stocked with everything from dairy and fruits to electronics, all to meet rapid delivery demands.

Ever thought how safe are these goods that arrive at our doorsteps so quickly?

According to a former Zepto employee at a Pune facility, workers were asked to pack and deliver expired dairy products and rotten groceries. “People think Zepto is hygienic. It’s not. The reality is disgusting,” he said, describing the conditions as unsanitary and unsafe.

More recently, Zepto Cafe came under fire when an Instagram influencer was allegedly served infested Maggi noodles.

Experts warn that while the industry has grown rapidly, basic safety standards — like those set by the FDA — have not scaled accordingly.

These concerns were validated by two major incidents:

• Zepto’s Dharavi facility had its food license revoked by the Maharashtra FDA. The inspection found:

  • Food items with fungal growth

  • Unsanitary floors

  • Expired stock mixed with fresh goods

• Blinkit’s dark store in Pune was also shut down after operating without a valid food license, violating core food safety laws.