Instant food delivery to emerge as high-margin play

What began as a way to pad basket sizes and boost margins is now turning into a high-stakes growth engine for quick commerce players. The instant food segment, known for delivering ready-to-eat meals in 10 to 15 minutes, is turning out to be more than a passing trend. Experts believe that by 2026–27, the category could contribute 8–15% of overall revenue and as much as 25–30% of profits for leading quick commerce players.