BigBasket co-founder Hari Menon has stepped down as CEO after 15 years of leading the company through its evolution from scheduled deliveries to embracing quick commerce, according to reports from The Economic Times. In a farewell note shared on June 26, Menon acknowledged being 'in denial' about the idea of 10-minute grocery delivery, stating that most people would have said no when asked about the concept. However, he noted that customers embraced the service once it was offered to them. 'I've said it before and I'll say it again, I was in denial with the idea of QC. If you'd asked 100 people back then whether they wanted groceries in 10 mins... most of them would've said no. But the moment we gave it to our customers, they lapped it up,' Menon wrote in his LinkedIn post. As per Retail India News, Menon expressed delight in welcoming Amit Nanda as CEO, highlighting his deep understanding of consumers and extensive experience across e-commerce and consumer sectors. 'Having built bigbasket from its inception to its current position as one of India's most trusted consumer platforms, I am delighted to welcome Amit as CEO. His deep understanding of consumers, strong track record of building and scaling businesses, and extensive experience across e-commerce and consumer sectors make him uniquely positioned to lead bigbasket for its journey ahead,' Menon stated. 'I am pleased to welcome Amit to bigbasket and the Tata Digital Group. His experience in leading large-scale businesses and driving product and technology strategy across critical marketplace capabilities combined with his deep understanding of digital commerce and consumer behaviour, makes him an excellent choice to lead bigbasket,' he added.
Amit Nanda has been appointed as the new CEO, as reported by Business Standard. Before joining BigBasket, Nanda served as director, Selling Partner Services, at Amazon India, where he most recently oversees one of the company's largest business verticals and manages its third-party marketplace ecosystem. According to Retail India News, Nanda brings more than 20 years of experience across e-commerce, consumer goods, and banking, with expertise in building and scaling consumer-focused businesses. As CEO, Nanda will be responsible for steering bigbasket's future growth strategy, with a focus on strengthening its position in the rapidly evolving quick commerce market, driving innovation across business verticals, and enhancing customer value through convenience and service excellence. 'I am incredibly excited to join bigbasket and build upon the phenomenal trust it has established with millions of consumers across India. Combining bigbasket's customer-first values with the trusted legacy of the Tata Group creates a strong foundation for the future. I have deep admiration for the organization Hari and the team have built - particularly its powerhouse private labels. I look forward to partnering closely with Hari and the entire leadership team to drive our shared vision and capture the massive growth opportunities before us,' Nanda said. Menon confirmed he will continue serving on BigBasket's board and will mentor the team and leadership as needed, stating he would remain closely connected to BigBasket in an advisory capacity, continuing to support its evolution as it navigates a competitive and rapidly changing market.
The Tata-owned company's priority will be profitability rather than market share, with Menon stating that the company should achieve profitability within the next 12-15 months. According to Business Standard, Menon described the emergence of quick commerce as the most significant disruption in the company's 14-year journey. The entry and rapid expansion of competitors such as Blinkit, Zepto and Swiggy Instamart intensified this shift, pushing demand toward near-instant delivery formats. Menon noted that BigBasket's original model was working effectively until the quick commerce wave began reshaping expectations, particularly in urban markets where speed became a differentiator. Menon described this as a turning point that forced BigBasket to rethink its approach and adapt to changing consumer behaviour, with the company now operating more than 900 dark stores across over 60 cities - a scale that would have been difficult to anticipate in its earlier model. 'BigBasket plays a critical role in Tata Digital's consumer ecosystem, and I look forward to working closely with Amit as the company continues to strengthen its position, expand its reach, and accelerate its ambitions,' Menon added.
BigBasket currently operates more than 900 dark stores and expects to cross 1,000 within the next one to two months, as reported by Business Standard. During its expansion phase, the company built a network of dark stores to support quick deliveries, now operating across over 60 cities. Menon identified four key principles that shaped BigBasket's operations: maintaining high order fulfilment rates, ensuring timely deliveries, keeping product availability above 95%, and focusing on customer satisfaction. These fundamentals supported the company's expansion from initial markets such as Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad to nationwide presence, including partnerships such as onboarding actor Shah Rukh Khan as brand ambassador. The company has also been broadening its product portfolio and strengthening its presence across multiple categories, as reported by Retail India News, with Nanda's appointment signaling the start of a new leadership chapter for the company as it focuses on growth, profitability, and expansion within India's fast-evolving online grocery and quick commerce market.
BigBasket has expanded its convenience offerings through bbinstant, a smart vending platform that provides 24x7 access to essential products including biscuits, chocolates, healthy snacks, cold drinks, and quick bites. The Kolkata expansion is aimed at serving the growing demand for convenient access to products within workplaces and residential complexes, reducing the need for consumers to step out for routine purchases. Seshu Kumar Tirumala, Chief Operating Officer, stated 'Convenience has always been at the heart of what bigbasket stands for, and bbinstant takes that a step further by putting it literally at your doorstep. Kolkata is a city that never really slows down, and we want to make sure that whether it's early morning or late at night, residents and professionals always have access to fresh, quality products without having to step out. We are excited to be part of Kolkata's everyday story.' The company's focus on operational excellence and customer satisfaction continues to drive its expansion strategy as it navigates the competitive quick commerce landscape.
