Yesterday, as Raksha Bandhan marked the beginning of India’s festive season, quick commerce platforms Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart reported unprecedented sales, underscoring the increasing dependence on these services for last-minute festival preparations. Both companies exceeded their 2023 performance, setting new records in order volumes and customer engagement.
Blinkit CEO Albinder Dhindsa shared the platform’s remarkable achievement on X (formerly Twitter), announcing that Blinkit hit an all-time high in orders within mere minutes. He highlighted that the platform reached its peak in orders per minute (OPM), gross merchandise value (GMV), and chocolate sales, with an astounding 693 rakhis sold per minute during the festival. Dhindsa also revealed that Blinkit expanded its operations internationally for Raksha Bandhan, accepting orders from six countries, including the USA, Canada, and Germany.
Swiggy Instamart also experienced a significant surge in sales. Co-founder Phani Kishan reported that Raksha Bandhan saw a higher OPM than any previous peak, with the platform expected to sell as many rakhis in one day as it had sold all year—a figure five times greater than the previous year. Kishan shared a notable example of festive spending, mentioning a man in Mumbai who lavished his sister with Rakhi gifts worth Rs 11,320, the highest amount spent on the platform. The gifts included a mix of toys, chocolates, flowers, and makeup.
These developments highlight the growing trend of Indians turning to online platforms for their festive shopping needs, whether for traditional items or luxury gifts, both domestically and internationally.
