Swiggy’s quick service expands to 500+ cities in India

Swiggy’s Bolt, a quick-service delivery platform, has expanded to over 500 cities across India, the company announced on May 2, 2025.

Launched in October 2024, Bolt delivers ready-to-eat meals from partner restaurants within a 2-kilometer radius, aiming for a 10-minute delivery time.

The service now accounts for over 10% of Swiggy’s total orders and partners with over 45,000 restaurants, including KFC, McDonald’s, Subway, and Burger King.

Despite Zomato’s decision to discontinue its 10-minute delivery service, Instant, Swiggy’s Bolt has gained popularity in both metro and tier II and III cities.

Users acquired through Bolt have higher monthly retention rates compared to Swiggy’s overall platform. Swiggy remains focused on expanding Bolt’s services nationwide.

🔗 Source: The Economic Times

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Ultra-fast delivery economics demand scale that few can achieve

The contrast between Swiggy’s expansion and Zomato’s retreat highlights the challenging economics of 10-minute delivery in India.

Research shows that in 2018, Swiggy’s average delivery time was already 32-33 minutes, with the company aiming to reduce it by 10 minutes through operational improvements and technology1.

Achieving profitability in quick-commerce requires massive scale. Swiggy’s 45,000 restaurant partnerships and presence in 500 cities create the density needed to make 10-minute delivery viable, while competitors without this scale struggle.

The Indian food delivery market, projected to grow from $43.47 billion in 2024 to $265.12 billion by 2033 (CAGR of 22.25%), offers enough volume for at least one player to make the quick-delivery model work2.

Swiggy’s success with Bolt (accounting for 1 in 10 orders) demonstrates that operational efficiency at scale can overcome the logistical challenges that have forced competitors to abandon similar offerings.

2️⃣ Quick delivery proves powerful for customer acquisition and retention

Swiggy’s data showing 4-6% higher monthly retention rates for users acquired through Bolt reveals why the company continues investing in the service despite its operational complexity.

In India’s competitive food delivery landscape, where Swiggy once held 36.4% market share compared to Zomato’s 23.78% (as of 2019), customer retention is a critical metric for long-term success3.