Startup Originals Team
In a bold move aimed at revolutionizing access to essential medicines, Zepto, the Aadit Palicha-led quick commerce platform, has officially launched “Zepto Pharmacy.” Promising to deliver medicines within just 10 minutes, this new service is now live in select areas of Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad. The launch marks Zepto’s expansion beyond its hallmark grocery delivery model and positions it as a strong contender in India’s burgeoning online pharmacy market.
A Year-Long Pilot and a Cautious Launch Strategy:
Before going public with Zepto Pharmacy, the company spent 12 months perfecting the customer experience, optimizing its supply chain, and ensuring compliance with stringent regulations. CEO Aadit Palicha emphasized that, given the complexity of pharmaceutical delivery, the company is committed to maintaining exceptionally high operational standards rather than chasing rapid, uncontrolled growth.
“Over the past 12 months, the team has worked tirelessly to perfect the customer experience, supply chain, and compliance at a small scale, and we want to grow it steadily from here,” Palicha noted. The goal is to make life-saving medicines more accessible right when customers need them the most, without compromising safety or reliability.
What Sets Zepto Pharmacy Apart?
- Speed and Convenience: Medicines delivered at your doorstep in as little as 10 minutes, leveraging Zepto’s established dark store network in dense urban areas.
- Carefully Curated Service Areas: The offering is currently available in select locations across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi-NCR, and Hyderabad, with plans for gradual expansion.
- Focus on Compliance: Strict adherence to prescription validation, regulatory norms, and temperature-controlled logistics to maintain medicine quality and safety.
- Steady Scale-Up: Instead of expanding aggressively, Zepto is opting for a measured approach to ensure sustainable quality and long-term customer trust.
Taking on the Competition:
With this launch, Zepto now finds itself competing directly with heavyweight e-pharmacy players like Tata 1mg, PharmEasy, and Apollo 24/7, as well as with other quick commerce platforms venturing into medical delivery. Industry observers believe Zepto’s promise of ultra-fast delivery, combined with its track record in grocery logistics, could be a game-changer for customers who need urgent medication-especially for chronic illness management or emergency needs.
The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges
Palicha admitted that operating an online pharmacy comes with unique operational and regulatory challenges-such as prescription validation, handling temperature-sensitive drugs, and ensuring airtight compliance, all while maintaining service speed. Zepto’s approach is to treat these hurdles with singular focus and not scale up too fast.
The service’s ultimate impact, Palicha says, lies in its potential to improve millions of Indian lives by making important medicines instantly accessible. If executed well, Zepto Pharmacy could set new standards in healthcare logistics, redefining what customers can expect from quick commerce platforms.
Conclusion: Raising the Bar for Healthcare Delivery
Zepto Pharmacy’s debut is not just a new feature-it’s a statement about the future of on-demand medicine delivery in India. With careful rollout, operational rigor, and a customer-first approach, Zepto is aiming to transform how Indians get their medicines: faster, safer, and exactly when they need them most.
