Deep Dive: The bright future of dark stores

<p>Dark stores – more widely known as microdistribution hubs – have been gaining prominence in India and Southeast Asia, with grocery delivery startups like <a href= "https://www.techinasia.com/dropezy-pre-series-a-funding?utm_source=article&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=growth-podcast-darkstores">Dropezy</a> and <a href="https://www.techinasia.com/stanford-university-dropouts-instant-delivery-platform-nets-60m?utm_source=article&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=growth-podcast-darkstores">Zepto</a> raising millions of dollars in funding and setting up hundreds of centers across the region.</p> <p>The future of this segment is brighter than its name suggests. By 2025, India’s consumables market is projected to hit roughly US$1 trillion while Southeast Asia’s online grocery market is expected to reach US$11.9 billion – a prime opportunity for operators of dark stores.</p> <p>In this episode of <em>Deep Dive</em>, <em>Tech in Asia</em>’s Nikita Puri discusses the ins and outs of this rising phenomenon, the key players leading the segment, and how dark stores can change the way we buy groceries - or anything else we might need.</p> <p>More information on today's episode here: <a href= "https://www.techinasia.com/deep-dive-bright-future-dark-stores">https://www.techinasia.com/deep-dive-bright-future-dark-stores</a></p> <h3>Featured reporter:</h3> <ul> <li><a href= "https://www.techinasia.com/profile/nikita-puri-2">Nikita Puri</a>, a <em>Tech in Asia</em> journalist based in India</li> </ul> <h3>Essential reading:</h3> <ul> <li><a href= "https://www.techinasia.com/dark-stores-light-redhot-grocery-delivery-market?utm_source=article&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=growth-podcast-darkstores"> Dark stores light up red-hot grocery delivery market</a></li> <li><a href= "https://www.techinasia.com/stanford-university-dropouts-instant-delivery-platform-nets-60m?utm_source=article&utm_medium=website&utm_campaign=growth-podcast-darkstores"> Stanford dropouts’ firm bags $60m to speed up grocery delivery in India</a></li> <li><a