Eternal Launches Blinkit Foods for 10-Minute Meal Service
Eternal, the parent company of Zomato, has taken significant steps to strengthen its quick commerce food delivery segment. It has created a new subsidiary, Blinkit Foods Private Limited, and plans to power its 10-minute ready-to-eat meal service, Bistro, through this new entity.
Eternal's CEO, Deepinder Goyal, has revealed that Blinkit Foods will primarily focus on food services, including innovation, sourcing, preparation, sale, and delivery. The company aims to expand its warehouse and sales network in the next two to three quarters, initially targeting major Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
In the first quarter of FY26, Eternal allocated Rs 60 crore for Bistro kitchens and related infrastructure as part of its Rs 370 crore capital expenditure. This investment comes as Bistro currently operates 38 kitchens in Delhi NCR and Bengaluru, generating incremental demand without cannibalising the Zomato business.
Blinkit, which is on track to reach 2,000 stores by December 2025, added 243 dark stores in Q1 FY26. This expansion has grown its network to 1,544 stores and increased its warehousing footprint to 5.6 million square feet. Despite this growth, Blinkit continues to report losses, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of -1.8% in Q1 FY26.
Eternal's consolidated net profit plunged 90% year-on-year to Rs 25 crore in Q1 FY26, despite a 70% increase in topline to Rs 7,167 crore. The company's shift away from restaurant partnerships for Bistro, adopting an integrated kitchen model to control preparation times, is expected to improve its operational efficiency and profitability in the long run.
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