Appointment of former Vini Cosmetics executive, Manish Bajoria, as Chief Financial Officer at BigBasket

Appointment of former Vini Cosmetics executive, Manish Bajoria, as Chief Financial Officer at BigBasket

In a significant move, Indian online grocery giant BigBasket is gearing up for an aggressive expansion of its 10-minute delivery model, backed by Tata Group's financial investment and a strategic focus on quick commerce.

The company aims to expand its dark store network from the current 700 to 1,200 by late 2025, enabling hyperlocal fulfilment and rapid delivery across India. This expansion will support the rapid delivery model, which is set to become the norm for FY25.

BigBasket is also leveraging a hyperlocal warehousing system to ensure groceries, essentials, and Tata-owned brands like Qmin and Starbucks are delivered quickly. By bypassing third-party restaurant partners, the company seeks to maintain quality and brand control.

The quick commerce food delivery segment is a key target for BigBasket, with the company aiming to compete directly with rivals such as Blinkit’s Bistro, Swiggy’s Snacc, and Zepto Café. The goal is to capture a larger share of the convenience-first food and snacks market.

Manish Bajoria, the newly appointed Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of BigBasket, will oversee all aspects of the company’s finance function and play a crucial role in shaping BigBasket’s financial strategy and scalability during this period of rapid expansion. Bajoria's leadership is expected to strengthen fiscal management, supporting the aggressive rollout of the 10-minute delivery model and BigBasket’s strategic ambitions in quick commerce.

BigBasket is also focusing on minimising its burn and has made significant strides in this regard. The B2C arm reduced its net loss by 17% to INR 1,267.2 Cr in FY24, while the B2B arm's net loss declined about 21% YoY to INR 1,415.2 Cr.

The company's B2B arm also saw impressive growth, with its top line crossing INR 10,000 Cr in FY24, up 6% from INR 9,468 Cr in FY23. About 40% of the revenue of BigBasket's B2B arm comes from in-house and private label brands, including Fresho (fruits and vegetables), Fresho Meats, BB Royal (staples), BB Royal Organics, Tasties, Tasties Origins, BB GoodDiet, and Indie Secrets.

BigBasket's quick commerce service, BBNow, offers delivery of not just groceries, but also large appliances and other expensive products. The company is strategically focusing on lower-tier cities for its quick commerce offerings.

BigBasket is planning to expand its 10-minute food delivery service across India by the end of FY26. The company is also aiming for a public listing within 18 to 24 months, signaling confidence in organic growth and Tata’s backing.

In summary, BigBasket's strategy for FY25 under Bajoria's financial stewardship focuses on using Tata's investment to accelerate 10-minute delivery infrastructure, expand market presence in quick commerce, and prepare the company for a potential public listing, positioning it as a dominant player in India’s fast-growing quick commerce sector.

BigBasket's financial strategy, led by Manish Bajoria, the new CFO, aims to leverage Tata Group's funding for accelerating the infrastructure of the 10-minute delivery model and expanding market presence in the quick commerce sector. The company also aims to strengthen fiscal management and prepare for a potential public listing within 18 to 24 months. Additionally, BigBasket seeks to leverage technology in areas such as hyperlocal warehousing and quick commerce food delivery, aiming to compete with rivals in the convenience-first market.

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