Zepto Café to launch standalone app next week, says Co-Founder Aadit Palicha | Company Business News

Aadit Palicha, co-founder of Zepto, announced via Twitter that the company is set to launch a dedicated app for Zepto Café next week. Highlighting the fast-paced development process, Palicha stated, “The team is shipping an MVP and iterating quickly, so it may not be perfect on Day 1, but it’s worth it to launch fast.”

Zepto Café, known for its curated beverage and snack offerings, has been growing rapidly. According to Palicha’s tweet, the company is now opening over 100 new Cafés each month and handling more than 30,000 daily orders.

Zepto, a leading player in quick commerce, has announced a clear roadmap to becoming a fully Indian-owned company while achieving profitability by the fiscal year 2025-26. This follows its recent $350 million funding round led by marquee domestic investors, including Motilal Oswal’s Private Wealth division. Co-founder and CEO Aadit Palicha also expressed optimism about launching an initial public offering (IPO) in 2025.

Speaking to PTI, Palicha highlighted that the recent funding round aimed to boost domestic ownership in preparation for an IPO targeted for 2025. “Our ambition is to go public next year, assuming stable capital markets and strong business performance,” he stated. The round saw participation from Indian high-net-worth individuals (HNIs), family offices, and financial institutions, demonstrating confidence in Zepto’s growth trajectory.

Defending the quick commerce model

Palicha strongly refuted claims that quick commerce disrupts traditional kirana stores, describing such allegations as “data-free narratives.” Instead, he emphasized the sector’s significant contributions, including job creation, improved wages, and overall consumer value. He pointed out that quick commerce has created 4.5 lakh jobs in just three years, with average wages exceeding ₹20,000—significantly higher than in the informal sector.

Palicha dismissed accusations of predatory pricing as unfounded, stating that 99.8% of Zepto’s products are sold above cost. “These claims don’t hold up under scrutiny, and we are open to anyone reviewing our financial data,” he remarked. Palicha added that India is witnessing over $200 billion in incremental consumption, benefiting all retail formats, including kirana stores.

The CEO highlighted Zepto’s 10-minute delivery model as a testament to India’s technological prowess, noting that such infrastructure is unparalleled globally. “This is Indian technology at its best, providing everyday essentials like rice and shampoo to consumers at lightning speed,” he said.

Zepto plans to expand from its current presence in about two dozen cities to over 50 cities by the next quarter. The company recently surpassed a billion dollars in top-line revenue and continues to grow at a rapid pace. According to Palicha, Zepto is on track to become PAT (profit after tax) positive in the next fiscal year, with profitability timelines for individual stores reduced to as short as eight months.

“We are confident that achieving profitability will send a strong signal to the market,” he added, reaffirming Zepto’s position as one of India’s fastest-growing consumer companies.