Ahead of IPO Flipkart Promotes Minutes Head Kunal Gupta to SVP Amid Quick Commerce Push

Flipkart has elevated Kunal Gupta to Senior Vice President (SVP), according to an internal communication cited by The Economic Times. Gupta leads the Minutes and grocery businesses and will continue reporting to group chief executive Kalyan Krishnamurthy. 

Expansion of Quick Commerce Unit 

Minutes, introduced in August 2024, handles short-duration delivery of groceries and daily essentials. The service is currently embedded within Flipkart’s main application. Plans are underway to launch a separate app, with a pilot expected in the next quarter.  

A broader rollout is likely ahead of the Big Billion Days sale or towards the end of the year. 

Store Network Scaling Up 

Flipkart is increasing its dark store capacity to support the service. As of March, it operated around 750-800 such facilities. The company has been adding roughly 100 stores each month this year.  

This is expected to take the count to about 1,200 by June, with internal plans indicating a further increase to around 1,600 stores over time. 

Competitive Pressures in the Segment 

The quick commerce space continues to see expansion by multiple players, including Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart and BigBasket.  

Companies are adding infrastructure and widening product ranges, with competition largely centred on delivery timelines and service reach. 

Executive Background and Company Plans 

Gupta has been with Flipkart since 2014 and has handled roles across fashion, mobiles and large appliances. He took charge of Minutes following the exit of Kabir Biswas in October.  

Separately, Flipkart is preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) next year and completed its shift of domicile from Singapore to India in March after receiving approval. 

Read More: NSE IPO Back on Track as SEBI Panel Clears ₹1,800 Crore Settlement Proposal! 

Conclusion 

The promotion comes alongside continued investment in the Minutes business, including expansion of infrastructure and changes to product structure within Flipkart’s quick commerce operations. 

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