Layoffs · Commerce & Consumer Brands

Zepto moves 300 employees to third-party firms

By Startup Enthusiast · 18 October 2025

What they do

Zepto delivers groceries and essentials within 10 minutes in Indian cities

Around 300 employees were removed from payroll and placed with third-party providers, part of a cost-cutting drive

The company has moved 1,000 staff off its payroll since early 2025, aiming to double business without adding headcount

Zepto moved around 300 employees off its payroll and placed them with third-party service providers.
The impacted departments include operations, tech, category management, and finance.
Since early 2025, the company has moved a total of 1,000 employees off its rolls.
The company's current on-roll headcount is about 5,700.
Automation of workflows, especially in customer support, led to the employee moves.
Some tech and support staff were moved to quality assurance and quality check teams.
Co-founder and CEO Aadit Palicha told employees on October 17 to 'obsess over costs' and be 'very frugal'.

The moves are part of a cost efficiency drive amid an intensifying competitive landscape.
Zepto plans to cut AWS spend and third-party software, building dashboards in-house.
The company aims to double business with the same headcount and treat hiring as a privilege.

Zepto is a 10-minute grocery delivery platform operating in Indian cities.
It delivers groceries, essentials, and other items directly to customers' doorsteps.
The company competes with other quick-commerce players like Blinkit and Swiggy Instamart.
Zepto recently raised $450 million at a $7 billion valuation.
The valuation is 40% higher than its previous $5 billion valuation last year.

Zepto plans to cut spending on AWS and third-party software.
The company will build dashboards in-house to reduce costs.
It aims to double business with the same headcount and treat hiring as a privilege.

Product: A rapid-delivery app for groceries and everyday essentials.
Customers: Consumers ordering groceries and essentials online.
How it makes money: It earns from product margins, delivery fees, and order-value thresholds across its quick-commerce network.
What sets it apart: It was built as a quick-commerce native company from day one.
Operations: Operates dark-store based 10-minute delivery across multiple Indian cities.

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