Thu Mar 06 14:16:16 UTC 2025: ## Indian Distributors Accuse Zomato, Swiggy, and Zepto of Anti-Competitive Practices

**NEW DELHI** – The All India Consumer Products Distributors Federation (AICPDF), representing 400,000 distributors supplying major brands like Nestle and Unilever, has filed an antitrust complaint against quick-commerce giants Zomato, Swiggy, and Zepto. The complaint, submitted to the Competition Commission of India (CCI), alleges predatory pricing and deep discounting practices that unfairly harm smaller retailers.

The AICPDF claims that Zomato’s Blinkit, Swiggy’s Instamart, and Zepto are using unsustainable discounts to undercut traditional brick-and-mortar stores, forcing them to compete at prices below cost. The filing cites examples of significant price discrepancies between online and offline retailers for various products, including a Nescafé coffee jar priced substantially lower on the quick-commerce platforms than its wholesale cost to independent retailers.

This complaint follows a similar CCI investigation last year into Amazon and Flipkart’s pricing practices, highlighting growing concerns about the e-commerce sector’s impact on smaller businesses. A recent survey reveals that quick commerce has already impacted consumer shopping habits, with a significant percentage reducing their supermarket and independent store purchases.

While Zomato and Swiggy haven’t responded to requests for comment, and Zepto declined to comment, the CCI is yet to respond to the complaint. The filing adds to the regulatory pressure on Zomato and Swiggy, who are already facing an ongoing CCI investigation into their food delivery businesses. Zepto, meanwhile, is preparing for an IPO.

The CCI will review the AICPDF’s complaint, which could lead to a full-scale investigation, potentially requiring the companies to explain their business practices. The outcome of the investigation, which could take several months, remains to be seen. The explosive growth of India’s quick-commerce sector, estimated to reach $35 billion by 2030, is now facing its first major antitrust challenge.

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