Quick commerce companies promising 10–15 minute grocery deliveries are now under the Maharashtra FDA’s radar. After officials found serious hygiene violations at a Zepto warehouse in Dharavi, Mumbai, the FDA has intensified its search for hidden “dark stores” fuelling this rapid delivery model.

Zepto Raided, Licence Suspended

Last month, FDA officers raided a Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd warehouse (Zepto’s parent company) and suspended its food business license for poor hygiene. The state government then ordered strict inspections of facilities linked to quick commerce platforms like Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart.

Tracking Hidden Stores Remains Tough

Many warehouses, storage, and packaging centres run under unrelated names or through outsourced partners, making them difficult to trace. In the Pune region — which covers Pune, Solapur, Satara, Sangli, and Kolhapur — the FDA oversees over one lakh registered food businesses and about 30,000 licensed ones. Since the crackdown, officials have inspected more than ten dark stores and issued a stop-business notice to a Blinkit outlet in Baner-Balewadi. “These companies often use different names and franchises. We don’t know how many operate without valid licences,” said Suresh Annapure, Joint Commissioner, FDA Pune. He added that it’s hard to get head office contacts, so teams rely on local raids and surprise checks.

Next Steps to Protect Consumers

Current laws don’t require companies to share franchise details with the FDA. Annapure said, “Once we get their contacts, we’ll demand a full list of dark stores. This will help us inspect each one and enforce hygiene standards to safeguard public health.” Following the Zepto incident, the FDA has ramped up inspections across the quick commerce sector. The state government has directed strict compliance checks to ensure all dark stores meet proper food safety and hygiene norms to protect consumers.

Source: The Hindustan Times