Zepto has secured regulatory approval to restart operations at its Dharavi dark store in Mumbai after the Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revoked the suspension of its food business licence.
The state regulator granted clearance following a reinspection by the Food Safety Commissioner and the submission of a compliance report by Zepto. The report detailed an internal audit, photographic documentation and results of water quality tests. “The Appellate Authority was pleased to pass an order allowing the appeal and thereby revoking the Suspension Order,” Zepto stated in a separate company release.
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The store had been shut since late May after the FDA reported serious violations, including the sale of expired products, fungal contamination, clogged stagnant water and improper cold storage. Additional concerns included wet and dirty floors, food items stored directly on the ground and poor segregation of expired goods.
“The findings constituted a failure to comply with the conditions of the licence,” the FDA had said at the time.
Blinkit also under FDA scanner
The development comes amid intensifying regulatory scrutiny of food safety protocols within India’s rapidly growing quick commerce sector. Just days after Zepto was flagged, the Maharashtra FDA identified similar violations at a Blinkit dark store in Pune, which was operating without a valid food safety licence.
In its statement, Zepto reaffirmed its stance: “We reiterate our strong commitment to upholding food safety standards and delivering a safe and trusted experience for users nationwide.”
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Minister of State for Food and Drug Administration Yogesh Kadam told CNBC-TV18 earlier this month that the government is not singling out Zepto but is urging all players in the sector to strictly adhere to the norms. He has directed food safety officers to carry out joint inspections of stores operated by Zepto, Blinkit, Instamart, and others, and to issue notices wherever non-compliance is observed.
This heightened regulatory attention comes as Zepto has pushed its IPO timeline to 2026, while seeking fresh funding from Indian investors in a bid to become fully Indian-owned. The company is also grappling with operational hurdles,
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