India is a market ripe with opportunity in the world of franchising, but not every brand that’s successful in India has made the leap overseas. Quick-commerce business Blinkit and fashion retail chain Zudio are examples of two franchises that have been on a meteoric rise at home, but are less well known to western markets.
In this article, Stuart Wood from BusinessesForSale.com takes a closer look at what’s led to these brands’ success, as well as their history and some key financials. Even if you’re not thinking of investing in a franchise in India, we hope there might be some pearls of wisdom you can take into your own home markets to be gained from looking at them.
New kids on the block – A brief history
Blinkit and Zudio are barely more than a decade old, with the former having been founded in 2013 and the latter in 2016. Blinkit pioneered the express delivery model in India by establishing a network of ‘dark stores’ – small, hyperlocal warehouses situated every 2km in urban areas. Zudio, meanwhile, has positioned itself as an industry leader by offering affordable fashion, carving out a niche in ‘tier 2’ cities such as Jaipur and Pune.
The ‘quick-commerce’ business model has exploded in India in recent years, with 280% growth between 2022 and 2024. With India’s increasingly time-conscious urban population wanting deliveries quickly, Blinkit has become an industry leader in a short space of time. Zudio is a brand that falls under the TATA Group, which gives it a big financial headstart – but its success isn’t just down to financial weight. It’s cleverly positioned itself in a heavily saturated market.
Unique business models – the ‘Partners Program’
Blinkit runs a franchise model that’s a bit different to some other brands. A Blinkit Partner owner runs a dark store in a local area, fulfilling orders to earn a monthly commission. Unlike traditional franchise models that may offer more autonomy, Blinkit Partners are primarily responsible for the inbound and outbound processes of the dark store.
Many franchisees earn fixed product markups or transaction-based commissions. However, in the Blinkit Partners Program, the commission is calculated on the monthly turnover. This revenue-sharing model holds potential for higher returns, but it is performance-dependent.
Zudio operates on a unique FOCO (Franchise Owned Company Operated) model. The franchise owner handles daily operations and manages the employees, while Zudio’s owner Trent (a TATA subsidiary) controls the supply chain and overall operations. This model ensures consistency across all Zudio stores, offering a similar customer experience at every Zudio store in India.
A low cost of entry
So how much does it cost to get started as a franchisee with one of these brands? The cost of starting a Blinkit franchise will be somewhere between 15 and 35 lakhs, depending on size and location. In British pounds, that’s between £12,975 and £30,275 (as of 2025 exchange rates). This relatively low cost of entry is one reason why Blinkit has been so successful, enticing new entrepreneurs.
For Zudio, you’ll expect to pay a higher amount to get started. After factoring in your franchise fees, security deposit, shop set up costs, inventory and more, you’re looking at between 1 and 3 crore – or between £86,500 and £259,500.
These franchises have been successful due to their savvy geographical targeting, and their ability to ride the wave of growing trends in quick-commerce and affordable fashion. In this way they emulate the success of businesses like Primark and Deliveroo in the UK – while also offering a relatively low point of entry to help the franchise expand into many new territories.
