Zepto officially launched Zepto Pharmacy, a 10-minute medicine delivery service, in select areas of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, and Hyderabad. CEO and Co-founder Aadit Palicha announced the expansion on Thursday through a LinkedIn post, making it clear that the company wants to approach this category with extreme care and precision.
Palicha explained that the team spent the last twelve months quietly running Zepto Pharmacy at a small scale. This year-long pilot allowed the company to refine its customer experience, strengthen its supply chain, and ensure airtight compliance with pharmaceutical regulations before rolling out the service to more customers.
One Year of Preparation Before Expansion
Zepto designed the launch of its pharmacy vertical differently from its grocery and everyday essentials business. While the grocery business allowed rapid scaling, the pharmaceutical category demanded more attention to detail. The company treated the year-long pilot as a laboratory.
Teams studied how customers placed orders for prescription drugs, how they reacted to delivery times, and what level of customer service they expected. Logistics managers analyzed the storage and transportation of temperature-sensitive medicines. Compliance officers ensured every transaction followed legal guidelines, from prescription verification to pharmacist approvals.
Palicha made it clear that Zepto refuses to compromise operational quality for speed of expansion. He emphasized that the company will add more locations gradually, scaling only when every standard meets or exceeds expectations.
Zepto’s Entry into the Healthcare Segment
Zepto entered the healthcare segment earlier in 2025 by introducing pharmacy and wellness options in its app for customers in Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The service included both prescription drugs and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Customers could upload prescriptions for verification before delivery.
To make the service more inclusive, Zepto introduced teleconsultation options for customers who needed medical guidance or prescriptions for minor ailments. This feature allowed users without prior prescriptions to still access essential medicines legally and safely.
The healthcare vertical added a fresh revenue stream for Zepto while positioning it as more than just a grocery delivery company. The move aligned with broader industry trends, where quick commerce players began exploring new high-margin product categories.
Leveraging Zepto’s Dark Store Network
Zepto built its business on ultra-fast grocery delivery, supported by a dense network of dark stores—micro-warehouses strategically placed within cities. Each dark store holds a carefully curated inventory to meet local demand while enabling delivery within 10 minutes.
The company adapted this model for Zepto Pharmacy. Medicines now occupy dedicated storage sections with climate control, secure handling, and compliance checks. Riders trained in pharmaceutical handling collect orders from these stores and deliver them directly to customers’ doors.
This infrastructure gives Zepto a natural edge. The same network that delivers fruits, vegetables, and packaged goods now handles medical essentials with equal efficiency. This dual use maximizes the return on its physical footprint and operational costs.
Competition in the Quick-Commerce Pharmacy Space
Zepto steps into a highly competitive market. Existing online pharmacy leaders like Tata 1mg, PharmEasy, Apollo 24/7, and Netmeds already command significant market share. Quick commerce rivals such as Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart have also entered the healthcare delivery space.
Blinkit began piloting prescription drug delivery in Bengaluru with free online doctor consultations. Swiggy Instamart partnered with PharmEasy to deliver medicines through its platform. Flipkart added a pharmacy service under the brand Health Plus.
Unlike some competitors that scaled quickly, Zepto chose a more controlled approach. The company prioritized building strong systems before expansion. This focus could help Zepto avoid operational mishaps and compliance issues, especially in a sensitive industry like pharmaceuticals.
Navigating Compliance and Regulatory Challenges
Medicine delivery brings strict legal requirements. Zepto integrated a prescription verification process to ensure customers receive only approved medicines. Licensed pharmacists review and approve prescription orders before dispatch.
For OTC medicines, Zepto’s app lets customers order without extra steps, but the company still maintains product tracking and safety measures. Teleconsultations bridge the gap for customers without prescriptions, ensuring they can legally access necessary drugs without bypassing regulations.
Regulators watch the sector closely. Quick commerce players face potential scrutiny for storage practices, prescription handling, and advertising of medical products. Zepto’s measured rollout reflects an understanding of these risks.
The Business Case for Zepto Pharmacy
The quick-commerce grocery business faces intense competition, price sensitivity, and low margins. Medicines offer higher margins and more predictable demand. Customers need essential drugs regardless of economic fluctuations, and many value speed and convenience in this category.
By entering pharmaceuticals, Zepto diversifies its revenue streams while leveraging existing infrastructure. The same delivery riders, app interface, and dark stores serve a broader product range, improving unit economics.
The company’s decision to keep service quality high before rapid scaling could also strengthen brand trust—something especially important in healthcare.
Funding and Strategic Partnerships
Zepto operates from a position of financial strength. In 2024, the company raised $350 million at a $5 billion valuation, pushing its total funding above $1.3 billion. The capital allowed Zepto to expand into new categories, invest in technology, and strengthen its supply chain.
In August 2025, MapmyIndia invested ₹25 crore for a small equity stake in Zepto. This partnership may give Zepto access to advanced mapping technology, improving delivery route optimization and real-time location tracking—crucial for fast and accurate deliveries in healthcare.
Balancing Speed, Quality, and Growth
Zepto’s growth strategy for the pharmacy business mirrors its early approach to groceries—starting small, building trust, and scaling only when the system works perfectly. The company focuses on customer retention, operational efficiency, and compliance over raw expansion numbers.
This discipline could help Zepto build a long-term competitive advantage. In healthcare, a single mistake can harm trust irreparably. Zepto’s careful entry may position it as a reliable, customer-first option for urgent medicine needs.
Challenges Ahead
Zepto still faces major hurdles. Pharmaceutical delivery involves temperature control, strict packaging requirements, and real-time stock updates. Any slip in compliance could lead to penalties or reputational damage.
The quick-commerce industry also faces pressure from traditional retailers and distributors. Some industry groups accuse fast delivery firms of deep discounting that undercuts local pharmacies. Regulatory bodies may investigate these claims, which could impact pricing strategies.
Additionally, while 10-minute delivery appeals to urban customers, it may not be practical in less dense areas. Zepto must decide whether to adapt delivery times for different regions or keep its brand promise consistent everywhere.
The Road Ahead
Zepto Pharmacy signals the company’s ambition to become a one-stop platform for urgent essentials. By integrating pharmaceuticals into its quick-commerce ecosystem, Zepto strengthens its value proposition and increases customer stickiness.
If the company maintains its focus on operational excellence, compliance, and customer satisfaction, it could capture a meaningful share of the online pharmacy market. The combination of speed, reliability, and trust will determine whether Zepto becomes as dominant in medicines as it is in groceries.
Conclusion
Zepto has taken a bold but calculated step into the world of healthcare with Zepto Pharmacy. By leveraging its dark store network, fine-tuning operations for a year, and integrating teleconsultations, the company sets a high standard for quick-commerce medicine delivery.
While competition is fierce and challenges are significant, Zepto’s commitment to quality and compliance could help it build a trusted presence in this sensitive sector. If it succeeds, millions of customers could rely on Zepto not just for groceries and snacks, but for life-saving medicines delivered in minutes.
Also Read – Why Google Makes It Harder for Businesses to Rank