Blinkit Tweaks Notice Period, Changes It from Zero to Two Months, To Tackle Talent Poaching

In the midst of an intense competition for domination in the rapid commerce market, as well as an equally ferocious conflict for talent retention, Zomato-owned Blinkit is said to have rewritten its employment contract.

According to Moneycontrol, the corporation has required numerous of its employees, notably those in high positions, to sign an extension to their contracts that increases their notice period from zero to two months.

“Blinkit’s move is both preemptive and in response to current events. A well-funded competitor like Zepto or a huge rival like Flipkart can make a sizable offer and easily recruit talent from Blinkit. Many organizations are doing this, and Blinkit is taking steps to avoid losing talent, according to the article.

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The decision to prolong the notice period for Blinkit staff comes as competition in the rapid commerce industry heats up. Zomato, which owns Blinkit, implemented this regulation in July, according to media sources. Since then, Zepto has raised $340 million, Walmart has launched and extended Flipkart Minutes throughout numerous Indian cities, and Swiggy has gained permission for its first public offering, one of the largest for a new-age company in recent years.

“In certain cases where Blinkit for sure knows an employee is going to a direct competitor, the employee is now sent on a garden leave for two months or is relieved immediately to avoid sensitive information being leaked out of Blinkit to others,” an additional insider told Moneycontrol.

It is worth noting that during the previous six months, rapid commerce players have expanded operations and varied their product offerings to satisfy rising consumer demand.

Almost all platforms, including Swiggy Instamart and the new Flipkart Minutes, have expanded into areas including electronics, beauty, pet care, toys, and small household appliances.

In the case of Blinkit, the additions increased gross order value (GOV) by 130% to INR 4,923 Cr in Q1 FY25 from INR 2,140 Cr in the same quarter previous year. Sequentially, it rose by 22.2% from INR 4,027 Cr in Q4 FY24.

Currently, Blinkit operates 639 dark stores across the country, with an average daily GOV per store of INR 10 lakh, up from INR 6 lakh from 383 stores previously. The company plans to increase the number of dark stores to 2,000 by the end of 2026 while remaining profitable.

According to CLSA, the gross order value of major rapid commerce providers such as Blinkit, Zepto, and Swiggy Instamart is predicted to reach $10 billion by fiscal year 2025-26 (FY26), owing to their expansion beyond grocery and into Tier 2 and 3 markets.