Q-Commerce Growth: Dark Stores Shaping the Future of Retail

Our latest report covers the emergence and footprint of dark stores in India, the identification of cities on a high growth trajectory, along with emerging concepts, outlook and a whole lot more. With dark stores expected to grow ~3X by 2030, these will require specialised design and infrastructure, including efficient layouts, temperature-controlled storage, and automation-ready facilities. The lack of organised players in this sector creates opportunities for builders and investors to establish themselves as early movers.

Key Highlights: 

- The rapid rise of E-Commerce and the increasing demand for speed and convenience has led to the emergence of dark stores – dedicated fulfilment centres that serve only online orders and are closed to walk-in customers. 

- Dark stores have expanded across eight Tier-I cities and more than 100 Tier-II & III cities in India, with a total count of 2,525 stores as of Oct-2025 and a total area of around 13.0 mn sq. ft. 
 
-Tier-I cities accounted for 1,725 stores (68% of the total) with an area of around 9.0 mn sq. ft, while around 100 Tier-II & III cities together comprise 800 stores (32% of the total) with an area of 4.0 mn sq. ft. 

Download our report for more details.