**Eternal Doubles Workforce Amid Rapid Expansion in Quick-Commerce**
Eternal, previously known as Zomato, has significantly increased its workforce in FY25, more than doubling its employee count as it expands its quick-commerce division, Blinkit, and the going-out vertical, District. The majority of new hires have been directed towards Blinkit and District, which are both capital and labor-intensive sectors that require last-mile delivery personnel, dark store operators, and local sales teams, according to the company’s annual report.
Doubling a workforce within a single year is uncommon, even in high-growth industries, and typically indicates hyper-scaling driven by new funding, expansion strategies, or pre-IPO momentum, as noted by Vivek Mehta, a partner at ABC Consultants. He explained that such growth is often observed in organizations experiencing hypergrowth phases, particularly after funding rounds or in preparation for an IPO.
Eternal is witnessing strong traction in tier 2 and tier 3 markets, where overall costs, including employment expenses, are considerably lower, according to Satish Meena, co-founder of Datum Intelligence. While the company does not disclose headcount by vertical, it is important to note that in tech-consumer sectors, annual workforce growth usually falls between 20% and 35%. Growth exceeding 80% to 90% is indicative of hyper-scaling, which is prevalent among venture-funded startups following capital infusions, quick-commerce platforms expanding dark stores, or roll-up models acquiring teams through staffing networks, as explained by Kartik Narayan, CEO of TeamLease Services Ltd.
As of December 31, 2024, Blinkit operated 1,007 dark stores. Eternal allocated ₹2,137 crore for dark stores and related operations but had only utilized ₹181 crore by March 31, 2025, leaving ₹1,956 crore in deposits and securities, according to the annual report. In the April to June quarter, Blinkit nearly matched the net order value of its core food delivery business, Zomato, contributing almost ₹10,000 crore to Eternal’s total net order value of ₹20,183 crore (excluding discounts).
Kamal Karanth, co-founder of Xpheno, a staffing specialist, highlighted that sectors blending consumer and technology require significant last-mile and round-the-clock operations, which also impacts workforce composition. Blinkit and District are not merely hiring engines; they represent high-burn execution strategies, according to Indranuj Pathak, a manager at Primus Partners. Eternal is front-loading costs in inventory-led locations and local sales, with hopes of recovering margins later through advertising, private labels, and improved take rates.
Pathak cautioned that if customer cohorts do not become more profitable or increase order frequency within two to three quarters, the strategy of hiring large numbers of low-wage workers may no longer be viable, as it could lead to increased costs and pressure on margins. Queries sent to Eternal on Monday morning did not receive a response by press time. Notably, Eternal’s profit after tax has plummeted by 90% year-on-year.
**FAQ**
**Q: What factors contributed to Eternal’s workforce doubling in FY25?**
A: Eternal’s workforce growth is primarily due to the expansion of its quick-commerce business, Blinkit, and the going-out vertical, District, which require significant labor for last-mile delivery and operations.