Fast and furious: Early-stage startups tweak supply chain operations as they shift to quick commerce lane

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. Bengaluru: Early-stage startups are tweaking their supply chain operations and rushing to tie up with companies including Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart to make quick commerce their primary distribution channel and accelerate sales, according to company executives and investors.

Sweet Karam Coffee, a Chennai-based snacking company, has shifted its supply chain from a centralised fulfilment model to a regional hub-based setup to speed up deliveries. “We optimise by rationalising our SKU mix based on performance, designing fulfilment-friendly packs, and keeping logistics lean through smaller, more frequent dispatches," company co-founder Nalini Parthiban told Mint.

Baker’s Dozen has set up warehouses in all major cities over the past year to distribute products in areas with higher demand, in addition to its centralised manufacturing facility in Ahmedabad, to ensure faster turnaround for quick commerce. “This is a great channel for new-age consumer companies like us as it provides access in a much bigger way without having to go through a brick by brick setting up of offline distribution in every place," said Sneh Jain, founder of Baker’s Dozen, adding that quick commerce is the biggest channel.

Quick commerce – where deliveries are offered in as few as 10 minutes – thrives on speed and a focused range of products. Companies such as Sweet Karam Coffee have adapted their backend operations, packaging lines and inventory management for this format by leveraging tech and tailored processes.

Parthiban said the company’s revenue has grown almost 6x over the past year, with about 50% of the monthly revenue from quick commerce. Wholsum Foods, which owns Slurrp Farm and Mille products, has