Indian e-commerce giant Flipkart is preparing to launch its quick commerce service in the pharmaceuticals industry with ‘Flipkart Minutes.’ Backed by Walmart, the company aims to enter the competitive medicine delivery segment, offering a 10-minute delivery service for both over-the-counter and prescription medications.
According to media reports, Flipkart is collaborating with local chemists in major Indian cities to expand its presence in the pharmaceutical delivery space. The initiative, expected to roll out by July, marks the company’s third attempt at fast-delivery services following its unsuccessful venture with ‘Flipkart Quick,’ which offered a 15-minute delivery window. This move puts Flipkart in direct competition with established players like Apollo Pharmacy, Tata 1mg, and Netmeds.
The sources revealed that Flipkart is foraying into the quick commerce platform with Flipkart Minutes and found medicines an untapped opportunity since no existing platform is dealing with 10-minute delivery. Rather, they deliver in an hour or 3-5 days, which will give them an edge over others. Also, the company plans to leverage its logistic partners and the medicines will be sold from the local pharmacies with valid licenses.
Flipkart’s quick commerce service ‘Flipkart Minutes’ was initially started in August 2024 in Bengaluru and went operational in big cities including Mumbai and Delhi-NCR. Now the company is all geared up to its services in cities like Pune, Kolkata, Chennai, and Hyderabad.
