For 22-year-old Rachana R., walking from her home to the neighbourhood store a few roads away to buy groceries or vegetables has always seemed like an effort. So Rachana and many like her have embraced the idea of online shopping wholeheartedly. For a large section of Bengalureans, running to the grocery store to buy essentials or taking leisurely strolls through the market over the weekend is a thing of the past.
Bengaluru’s shopping habits have undergone rapid transformation, driven by the rise of instant delivery services and e-commerce giants. The number of items that get home delivered within minutes continues to increase, with clothes, makeup, luxury items and gadgets getting added to the list.
Apps like Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy Instamart, Bigbasket, Flipkart Minutes and Amazon Fresh have redefined convenience, bringing everything from fresh vegetables to mobile phones to customers’ doorsteps in minutes. With their promise of speed, variety, and ease, these platforms are reshaping traditional retail, posing challenges to local kirana stores while catering to a fast-paced urban lifestyle.
These apps, even if they charge a little extra for delivery, save my energy and cost of fuel. The time these apps take for delivery is almost the same as going out myself, sometimes even less. It just makes life easier, says Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar, a 27-year-old news producer.
| Photo Credit:
MOORTHY M
Convenience over all else
“When you shop online, you do not have to go to different stores. Everything is under the same platform. And the best part for a working woman or anyone who is juggling things is that it eases your chores. For example, when you must cook, most vegetables, fruits and greens available on these platforms are already cut, all you have to do is toss them in a pan,” says 28-year-old Arpita Rajpurohit who works in a radio channel.
Another big plus, she says, is that most of the items available on the apps are also often cheaper than that of a supermarket or provision store. “So, life is just easier with these apps,” she adds.
Shradha Joshi, an IT employee in her early 20s, says that every day she has early work meetings online or at the office, so combining that with shopping is next to impossible. “Later in the day, work keeps me busy till late evenings, sometimes till 9 or 10 p.m. But when I do have time, I do not really feel like stepping out to buy anything. I just want to rest because of the hectic schedule throughout the week. So, I am highly dependent on these online platforms now.”
Similar is the explanation of Vaishnavi Chandrashekhar, a 27-year-old news producer who says finding time to go out and buy essentials in between a hectic schedule is tough. “My day starts at 4.45 a.m., and ends around 11.30 p.m., or past midnight. These apps, even if they charge a little extra for delivery, save my energy and cost of fuel. The time these apps take for delivery is almost the same as going out myself, sometimes even less. It just makes life easier,” she argues.
But for some the choice of online shopping is driven by the absence of brick-and-mortar stores in their vicinity. Vinarmatha Rai, a 25-year-old engineer, says, “I live in a slightly remote area, and I have to commute at least for 5-10 minutes to access the nearest store or supermarket. Even if I go to a supermarket, it gets difficult to find all the items I need. But with online apps, I get anything at a tap. I prefer apps for their sheer convenience,” she explained.
22-year-old artist Adithya Suresh, however, says that his parents have not made that transition. “My parents make a weekly trip to the hypermarket or stop by the Banashankari market when they are out, because for them, quality matters more and they are willing to put in the effort to get it.”
| Photo Credit:
DEEPAK KR
The flip side of easy access
But 22-year-old artist Adithya Suresh admits that everything being available at fingertips has a flip side. “There was a time when I had to think twice before buying anything, whether it was something I simply craved or or really needed. I would consider if I could find a substitute at home or just suppress the craving. But with the rise of quick delivery apps, everything has changed. Now I can find anything I need, even specialty items that are not usually available.”
Adithya, however, says that his parents have not made that transition. “My parents make a weekly trip to the hypermarket or stop by the Banashankari market when they are out, because for them, quality matters more and they are willing to put in the effort to get it. For my generation though, convenience seems to trump quality when it comes to shopping.”
Many senior citizens and middle-aged shoppers, The Hindu spoke to, said that they still prefer shopping at a physical store. Sumalatha M., a 55-year-old hotelier, said that she prefers shopping at the store over online any day. “Of course I do shop online too, but that is not something I do every day. Online shopping for me is only during emergencies. Shopping is one reason for me to get out of home, and amidst my busy schedule, it is like meditation. I will continue to step out and shop for as long as I can,” she says.
Raghunandan Kumar, a senior citizen, said that living in apartment complexes has changed ways of shopping for many, but he prefers steeping out. “Apartments in a way spoil you. From basic needs like milk and vegetables to car wash, everything is at your doorstep. With online apps delivering to you no matter which floor you are on, no one prefers stepping out. Everyone in my family has become lazy because of this. Sometimes it gets annoying with so many deliveries coming in every half an hour. But when you step out and shop you know what you want exactly and you limit your expenses,” he argues.
The online delivery apps have been posing a challenge to the local kirana stores.
| Photo Credit:
REUTERS
Provision stores affected
Abdul Salam, the manager of Shopwell supermarket in Turahalli, said that the store has seen moderate loss in its sales over the years, “Initially when we opened almost a decade ago, there were hardly any shops in this area. There were many developing apartments, and we were everyone’s first choice. We delivered to multiple houses and our store would be busy with customers in the mornings and evenings,” he said.
“However, over the last 3-4 years with the rise of online apps and fast delivery, we are seeing a slow but significant loss in our business. We do have our regular customers, but those who have a busy lifestyle prefer online shopping now,” Abdul explained.
Similarly, Nataraj Kodihalli, a manager at Simpli Namdhari’s near Ashoka Pillar, said that though there has been no major loss, the rise of online shopping is affecting supermarkets in some way or the other. “There are regular customers who keep a store running. But over the last five years, there has been a significant change in peoples’ shopping preferences. Online platforms offer great discounts to people as most of their expenses are only on staff salaries and storage. However, supermarkets can not offer to give great discounts as they have to take care of salaries of staff, store rent, maintenance of store for customers like non-stop air conditioning, security and more,” he said. Nataraj added that more than supermarkets it is the local kirana or provision stores that are affected the most.
Down to basics
Srinivas S., the owner of a provision store in Malleswaram, rued that increasingly it is senior citizens and working class who come to his shop these days. “Senior citizens or those from the lower middle class, like construction workers, come to my shop these days, because they do not how to use these delivery apps. I have reduced stock, and things that I sold three years ago are not in my store anymore. I stick to basic items like milk, eggs, vegetables, detergent, soaps, and some snacks and chocolates for children. My family is not financially dependent on this store, if we were, we would be on a major loss right now,” he explained.
Published – March 17, 2025 09:00 am IST