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Zepto heads for IPO amid quick-commerce boom
BENGALURU: Zepto has joined India’s IPO queue, filing confidential papers for a stock market listing as the country’s quick-commerce arms race shifts up a gear.
The four-year-old startup has submitted draft documents under the confidential route, allowing it to keep details under wraps until closer to launch, according to regulatory filings. The move positions Zepto among the most closely watched public market candidates of 2025, a year expected to see record fundraising in Indian equities.
Founded in 2021, Zepto has ridden India’s appetite for instant gratification, promising deliveries in 10 minutes and expanding aggressively across major cities. The company now offers more than 45,000 products, spanning groceries to everyday essentials, and is locked in a costly fight for urban consumers with rivals such as Blinkit, owned by Eternal, and Swiggy’s Instamart.
The sector has become one of India’s most capital-intensive consumer battles, with players pouring billions into dark stores, logistics and last-mile delivery as speed becomes the ultimate differentiator.
Zepto’s IPO plans follow a $450 million funding round in October that valued the company at $7 billion, underlining investor appetite even as competition squeezes margins.
As India’s markets brace for a bumper year of listings, Zepto’s filing sends a clear signal. The quick-commerce land grab is far from over, and the next phase of the fight is heading straight for the stock exchange.
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Q3 revenue jumps 139 percent as losses narrow sharply
Q3 sales nearly 2.4x higher as losses narrow sharply, but auditors serve a side of caution.
MUMBAI: While couples were swapping chocolates and roses, Wardwizard Foods and Beverages Limited was busy cooking up its own love story, this one in the boardroom. On 14 February 2026, the company announced its Q3 and nine-month results, and the top line was nothing short of delicious. Revenue from operations for the quarter ended 31 December 2025 jumped to Rs 11,664.72 lakh, a mouth-watering 139 per cent increase from Rs 4,875.71 lakh a year earlier. For the nine months, revenue surged to Rs 19,728.01 lakh from Rs 5,363.82 lakh almost 3.7 times higher.
The company’s big bite came from its newly prominent Food Commodities segment, which contributed Rs 10,608.28 lakh in the quarter alone. The older RTE, frozen, sauces & mayo business added Rs 966.38 lakh.
Losses, however, still left a slightly bitter aftertaste. The company reported a standalone net loss of Rs 60.24 lakh in Q3, a sharp improvement from Rs 371.65 lakh last year. For the nine months, the loss narrowed to Rs 167.80 lakh against Rs 1,436.38 lakh previously. Earnings per share stood at (Rs 0.02) for the quarter.
The auditors, Mahesh Udhwani & Associates, gave a qualified opinion, flagging outstanding advances of Rs 760 lakh and certain trade receivables where no provision or expected credit loss has been made. They also noted they could not verify interest expense of Rs 243.52 lakh on a Rs 2,857.46 lakh borrowing from Indian Credit Co-operative Society, and highlighted missing internal audit reports and unbooked interest on another loan.
In other housekeeping news, the board noted the resignation of company secretary and compliance officer Bhoomi K Talati.
The board meeting, held from 8:30 pm to 10:20 pm on Valentine’s Day itself, approved the unaudited results after the Audit Committee’s recommendation.
For a company that was once deep in the red, the massive revenue ramp-up signals a clear shift in flavour even if the final profitability dish is still simmering. Investors will be watching whether this Valentine’s treat turns into a lasting romance or remains a one-night revenue wonder.
