Milk emerged as the unchallenged hero of Indian shopping lists, appearing in one out of every 15 orders. Fruits and vegetables also made up a significant chunk. Late nights, between 10 pm and 4 am, chips, ice cream, and cold drinks were the favourites.
Festivals showcased the country’s unique relationship with quick deliveries. Diwali sparked a ₹45 lakh spending spree on brooms for last-minute cleaning, while Raksha Bandhan saw the delivery of nearly eight lakh rakhis. One Mumbai user ordered 31 rakhis in a single transaction. Valentine’s Day proved busy too, with roses flying off the shelves — 307 every minute at its peak.
Different cities revealed distinct shopping quirks. Bengaluru topped the list for toothbrush purchases, with over 2.7 lakh snapped up during the year, while Mumbai went all out on tonic water, spending ₹8.2 lakh in just one day. Delhi showed its enduring love for instant noodles, spending ₹60 crore on the snack alone.
Stealth shopping surged after 10 pm, with masala chips and flavoured condoms dominating these late-night purchases. Kochi set a record for the fastest delivery — an order completed in just 89 seconds — while the cheapest order of the year, a ₹3 sharpener, came from Hyderabad.
While speed and convenience defined the shopping experience, the report points out that there was also a conscious shift towards sustainability. Hyderabad and Bengaluru stood out for their preference for the ‘Deliver Without Bag’ option. Indians living abroad frequently logged in to place orders for essentials like dosa batter, milk, and water for their families back home using the newly-introduced international login feature.
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
