Covid-19: Flipkart ties up with Tata Consumer to provide essentials

Distributors of the Tata group firm will list themselves on Flipkart as marketplace sellers. Consumers can buy different combo packs using Flipkart platform

E-commerce firm Flipkart joined hands with Tata Consumer Products to provide its customers access to essential food and beverage products, in the wake of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) outbreak.
 

As a part of this, distributors of the Tata group companies will list themselves on Flipkart as marketplace sellers. Consumers can use the Flipkart to buy different combo packs of essential products such as beverages (Tata Tea and Coffee) and foods (Tata Sampann spices, pulses, and nutri mixes) offered by Tata Consumer Products.
 

“The synergies and capabilities of both Tata Consumer and Flipkart are complementary and we are proud to enable an alternative business channel built on our marketplace model to deliver great value to consumers in these times of crisis,” said Kalyan Krishnamurthy, chief executive officer of Flipkart Group.
 

“Tata Consumer Products is committed to ensuring the availability of our beverage and food brands to consumers across India, during this difficult time. This partnership with Flipkart provides an innovative way to set up a strong alternative distribution channel through our wide network,” said Sunil D’Souza, managing director and chief executive officer, Tata Consumer Products.
 

Flipkart’s marketplace supply chain will fulfil the orders by picking up these combinations from Tata Consumer’s distributors and delivering those to customers using its network of delivery executives. The partnership is already operational in Bengaluru, and the companies plan to expand these facilities in Mumbai and Delhi in the coming week and tier-2 cities in the future.
 

This week, Flipkart also announced a pilot programme with retail chain Spencers to introduce hyperlocal deliveries of groceries and essentials in Hyderabad.
 

Tata Consumer Products, part of Tata group, was formed in February this year following the merger of Tata Global Beverages and the consumer products business of Tata Chemicals.
 

E-commerce companies have been exploring unique models to ensure business continuity amid the 21-day nationwide lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of Covid-19.
 

Earlier, BigBasket partnered with Uber to help in delivery of essential items, while Grofers said it had hired about 2,000 people from industries that have been deeply impacted by the current crisis.
 

E-commerce companies have struggled to deliver orders after the lockdown was imposed on March 24. Even though the government allowed delivery of essential goods including food, pharmaceuticals and medical equipment through e-commerce platforms, players faced hiccups initially.
 

The surge in orders also disrupted operations for these companies. Players have now started resuming operations across various cities, clearing pending orders before accepting new ones.
 

The partnerships
 

• Consumers can buy combo packs such as Tata Tea and Coffee and Tata Sampann spices, pulses, and nutri mixes
• The partnership is already operational in Bengaluru and will be expanded to Mumbai, Delhi and tier-2 cities
• Flipkart’s marketplace supply chain will fulfil the orders by picking up these combinations from Tata Consumer’s distributors
• Flipkart had also announced a pilot programme with Spencers to introduce hyperlocal deliveries of groceries and essentials in Hyderabad
• Earlier, Bigbasket partnered with Uber to help in delivery of essential items

With additional inputs from PTI