Four Hyderabad quick-commerce stores lose food licences after inspections

Food authorities in Hyderabad have suspended the licences of four quick-commerce dark stores and ordered them to stop operating immediately after inspections found multiple food-safety violations. The action was taken by the Telangana Standards Authority for Food and Essential Drugs, known as TG SAFE, following inspections on Wednesday. Officials examined 16 dark stores operated by companies linked to Swiggy Instamart, Flipkart, Zepto and other delivery operations.

The four stores whose licences were suspended were a Swiggy Instamart facility at Petbasheerbad, a Flipkart store near Charminar, a Zepto store in Koti and another Swiggy Instamart store at Saidabad. Inspectors reported unhygienic premises, damaged and expired food articles, improper handling and storage, and spoiled vegetables affected by fungal growth. They also found breaches of food labelling and display requirements, cockroach and pest infestation, and inadequate maintenance of cold-room temperatures.

TG SAFE officials lifted 15 food samples on suspicion of adulteration. The authority said improvement notices would be issued to three establishments, while five others would receive show-cause notices over violations identified during the inspections. The establishments receiving improvement notices will be inspected again to establish whether corrective measures have been implemented.

Further action, including penalties, will be considered against facilities issued show-cause notices, officials said. The inspections covered stores operated by Kwickbox Retail Private Limited, which operates Swiggy Instamart dark stores; Instakart Services Private Limited, which operates Flipkart stores; Zepto Private Limited; and Dropx Logistics. The licensing suspensions mean the four named establishments must stop business operations immediately.