'₹1.7 Lakh iPhone with ₹178 Lime Soda': 'How India Instamarted' report by Swiggy Instamart

In the past year, India's digital shopping scene has experienced a remarkable transformation, as quick commerce has evolved from a mere emergency grocery solution into a robust retail platform. A recent report titled "How India Instamarted 2025" by Swiggy Instamart reveals that the service has become a go-to destination for an array of products, ranging from inexpensive printouts to high-end technology. This year marked a significant increase in the delivery of high-value electronics, with the launch of the iPhone 17 highlighting a shift from traditional retail practices. Notably, Pune recorded the fastest delivery in just three minutes, followed closely by Ahmedabad at three and a half minutes. The demand for premium gadgets is evident, with a user in Hyderabad spending ₹4.3 lakh on three iPhones in one order, and another shopper in Noida investing ₹2.69 lakh on smart home gadgets, including Bluetooth speakers and robotic vacuums. A memorable incident saw a Bengaluru resident order a ₹1.7 lakh iPhone paired with a ₹178 lime soda. Beyond electronics, 2025 has also seen an increase in digital purchases of precious metals. During the festive season, gold orders skyrocketed by 400% compared to the previous year, with notable purchases like a Mumbai shopper buying gold worth ₹15.16 lakh and a Bengaluru customer acquiring a 1kg silver brick valued at nearly ₹2 lakh for Diwali. Despite the surge in luxury items, the foundation of the service remains in everyday essentials. Dairy products lead the pack, with India ordering over four packets of milk every second—enough to fill over 26,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools annually. Traditional items like paneer have outperformed cheese, while butter continues to be favored over modern spreads for breakfast. Certain staples have emerged as the champions of Indian kitchens, with curry leaves, dahi, eggs, and bananas topping the list of repeat purchases. A resident from Kochi even ordered curry leaves 368 times throughout the year. Evening cravings have also shown patterns, with masala-flavored chips being the most popular choice in late-night orders across nine of the ten largest cities. The report also indicates a growing emphasis on wellness and personal care, particularly in protein products. Seven out of the top ten protein items sold were protein bars, with Noida recognized as a fitness hotspot where one user spent ₹2.8 lakh on 1,343 protein-related items. The personal care segment saw a discreet yet notable trend, with one in every 127 orders including condoms, peaking during a significant 24% surge in September. Instamart has become a preferred choice for last-minute gifts and celebrations. On Valentine’s Day, roses were ordered at an impressive rate of 666 per minute, and Mondays have surprisingly become the busiest day for gifting nationwide. The data also revealed interesting trends in gifting habits: bodycare sets for Mother’s Day saw peaks around midday, while grooming gifts for Father’s Day were most popular in the evening. While major cities remain strong, the true growth narrative of 2025 lies within India's Tier-II cities. Rajkot experienced a staggering tenfold increase in orders, with Ludhiana and Bhubaneswar also showing significant growth. This regional expansion was further fueled by the "Quick India Movement" sale, which saved shoppers around ₹500 crore and resulted in a doubling of first-time buyers from smaller towns throughout the year.