Dark Store Market - Databook 2025 to 2034

The global dark store market size surpassed USD 22.77 billion in 2024 and is predicted to reach around USD 451.1 billion by 2034, registering a CAGR of 34.8% from 2025 to 2034.

Highlights of the Dark Store Market

• North America dominated the global dark store market in 2024.
• Asia Pacific is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period.
• By age group insight, the adults segment held a dominant presence in the market in 2024 and is expected to grow the fastest.
• By category, the groceries segment accounted for a considerable share of the market in 2024.
• By category, the meat segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034.
• By delivery options, the home delivery segment led the dark store market.
• By delivery options, the curbside pickup segment is projected to experience the highest growth rate in the market between 2025 and 2034.
• By non-food products, the cleaning segment registered its dominance over the market in 2024.
• By non-food products, the essentials segment is set to experience the fastest rate of market growth from 2025 to 2034.

Industry Valuation and Growth Rate Projection

The dark store market deals with retail stores that process online orders and shipments, a hybrid between the warehouse and local fulfillment centers. They have been made for efficient picking, packing, and shipment of groceries and items of daily needs, where most emphasis goes into the layouts and technologies to get orders turned around. The rise in dark stores is directly proportional to the expectation of convenience and fast delivery from consumers and the compulsion on the side of retailers to keep overhead costs low while keeping supply chains.

The primary mechanism by which the format helps this is allowing the brands to either repurpose existing real estate or build compact, unassuming facilities in urban locations so that they can squeeze time and cost out of their delivery, which is crucial for competitive advantage in today's scenario. Dark stores, as a word, have evolved and are becoming an important strategic investment for established chains as well as new players, thus undergoing a much larger structural shift that involves digital-first retail infrastructure and intelligent fulfillment ecosystems.

Dark Store Market: Stats and Figures

• Dark store count is expected to reach 5,500 by 2026.
• Blinkit aims to conclude the current financial year with over 1000 dark stores.
• Flipkart is aiming to launch 100 dark stores for quick commerce.

How AI Has Benefitted the Market?

• AI benefited the dark stores market by means of Real-time data & decision making, smart order fulfillment, and dynamic pricing & predictive maintenance.
• Demand Forecasting & Inventory Optimization: AI looks at sales trends, customer behavior, and external factors for demand forecasting and keeping optimal stock levels.
• Smart Order Fulfillment: AI ensures that the picking, packing, and sorting processes are expedited and fulfilled without errors.
• Real-Time Data & Decision-Making: Continuous analysis of the data dramatically smoothens the operational decisions.
• Automation & Robotics Integration: The AI systems provide automation mainly for repetitive tasks, thus increasing efficiency and reducing manual labor.
• Dynamic Pricing & Predictive Maintenance: AI prevents equipment from being down by dynamically adjusting pricing and promotions.

Industry Leader Announcements

• Swiggy chief financial officer Rahul Bothra :

“We believe that store additions will be a derivative of growth we have made a choice of network where we have these megapods, which are two-and-a-half times larger than dark stores and these can do 5,000-6,000 orders per day compared to 2,000-3,000 orders a day (done by smaller dark stores).”

• Aadit Palicha, the company’s co-founder and chief executive officer:

Zepto’s first women-only dark store is now serving the Madambakkam area in Chennai! If you place an order in the area, there’s a 100 per cent chance your order was picked and packed by an all-women team.”

Geographical Insights

North America

North America dominated the market in 2024. Due to higher acceptance of online grocery platforms and a strong consumer preference for home delivery services, North America retains its position as the dominant region. Digital infrastructure and changing retail dynamics have catapulted major players among supermarket chains as well as e-commerce platforms to invest in spaces dedicated to fulfillment.

Asia-Pacific

Asia-Pacific is expected to experience the fastest growth during the forecast period. Fast urbanization, mounting digital population, and shifting consumer expectations give rise to significant growth in the Asia Pacific region. Retailers are turning to efficient and faster types of fulfillment, such as same-day delivery and contactless service. Labor shortages in some places have ended up encouraging automation within such facilities.

Europe

Europe is expected to see remarkable growth in the market. Europe is another key growth region with high internet penetration and aggressive digital investments by e-commerce companies. Countries such as the U.K., Germany, and France are far ahead in ·digitally integratingdark store operations with their commercial platforms to meet rising demand from online shoppers.

Recent Developments:

• In February 2025, DTDC launches same-day delivery services in rapid commerce, opening its first Dark Store in Bengaluru, enhancing last-mile delivery speed and efficiency. In November 2024, Swiggy plans to expand its dark stores with 8,000-10,000 square feet capacity, storing 30,000-35,000 SKUs, to provide broader product access across different areas.

Competitive Landscape

The market is moderately fragmented with local players like Amazon.com, Inc., Flipkart, Ola Foods, Swiggy, Supermarket Grocery Supplies Pvt Ltd., Target Brands, Inc, Uber, Instacart, Auchan, Dunzo Daily, Walmart, Inc., Wolt, Grab etc. wishing to take the time to edge their presence through investments, partnerships, acquisitions, and mergers. They also invest in product development and competitive pricing. These strategies will promote market growth and lucrative opportunities for market players

• Company Name: Swiggy
• Year of Incorporation: 2014
• Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.

Swiggy's total revenue for the fiscal year ending March 2025 was Rs 15,227 crore, up 35% compared to Rs 11,247 crore in the previous fiscal year.

• Company Name: Flipkart
• Year of Incorporation: 2007
• Headquarters: Bangalore, India.

In FY24, Flipkart Internet Private Limited saw its gross merchandise value (GMV) rise to Rs 70,542 crore, a 26.4% increase from the previous year.

• Company Name: Ola Foods
• Year of Incorporation: 2019
• Headquarters: Koramangala, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.

The revenue from operations and other income stood at ₹2,368 crore, compared to ₹3,000 crore in FY23.