FDA struggles to locate quick commerce firms' dark stores

Following a raid at the Dharavi outlet of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd, the parent company of the popular grocery delivery platform Zepto, the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is now facing a new challenge — locating the hidden "dark stores" of quick commerce companies across the state.

- Vicky Pathare [e-mail]

PUNE:

Last month, the FDA suspended the food business license of this warehouse of Kiranakart Technologies Pvt Ltd after serious hygiene violations were allegedly found during the inspection.

Following this, the state government earlier this month, ordered strict inspections of all facilities operated by fast-delivery services like Zepto, Blinkit, and Instamart, amongst others. However, FDA officials are unable to track these warehouses, storage and packaging centres as they are operating with different names.