Unpacking Chennai’s year of fast decisions, global flavours, and lifestyle-led quick commerce
Chennai, 22nd December 2025: Known for its deeply rooted food culture and discerning palate, Chennai quietly turned into one of India’s most intentional quick commerce markets in 2025. As Instamart, India’s pioneering quick commerce platform, releases the fifth edition of its annual year-end report — How India Instamarted It 2025 data shows the city leaning decisively protein-first. Fresh meat and seafood dominated carts, while the overall health & wellness category grew 74% YoY, signalling a shift towards nutrition-led, planned consumption delivered at speed.
In 2025, Chennai blended discipline with indulgence. Five customers crossed ₹7 lakh in annual spending, while high-value carts featured a mix of electronics, wellness, pet care, jewellery and personal care. Alongside essentials, Chennai shoppers showed a growing comfort with indulgence, experimentation and high-value purchases. One user tipped ₹59,505, another spent ₹2.41 lakh on pet supplies, while a tech-savvy shopper cracked a ₹1 lakh cart for just ₹7,000 during Instamart’s debut sale – Quick India Movement by snapping up wearables and audio gadgets at steep discounts. Even premium purchases such as gold coins and jewellery vouchers found a place in 10-minute commerce.
“Quick commerce in India has moved beyond just convenience. It’s not just a service, but a part of the modern Indian lifestyle. What started as last-minute top-ups and impulse buys now includes planned purchases and even big-ticket spending, from daily essentials to premium treats. Instamart is proving to be a trusted partner for everything people need, whether it’s urgent, indulgent, or just part of their routine, all delivered with the speed and reliability they expect from us.”- Hari Kumar G, Chief Business Officer, Swiggy
What Chennai Instamarted the Most in 2025
Protein-first city: Meat & poultry led demand during Instamart’s sale, followed by seafood, eggs and premium frozen meats
Global flavours go mainstream: Korean ramen, sauces and international condiments saw explosive growth, signalling evolving home-cooking preferences
Late-night cravings rule: Chips, mineral water and soft drinks dominated Chennai’s late-night orders
Essentials-driven baskets: Dairy, milk, curd and daily staples remained consistent anchors, reflecting Chennai’s practical, routine-led shopping behaviour
Wellness without hesitation: Sexual wellness products like condoms were put into carts, signalling growing comfort and discretion-driven demand on quick commerce. A single account in Chennai placed 228 separate condom orders totaling ₹1 lakhs, a light-hearted testament to ‘planning ahead’
Chennai’s Big Spends, Smart Deals & Category Surges
Quick India Movement’s boldest buy: A high-value gold coin emerged as one of the city’s standout premium purchases
Fastest-growing categories: Beauty & grooming grew by 34x%, while electronics & appliances surged 38x underscoring the city’s comfort with non-grocery quick commerce
Beyond groceries: Vehicle accessories, sports & fitness, footwear, bags, jewellery, toys, electronics, home and makeup featured among the fastest-growing categories
Meanwhile, the rest of India in 2025 wasn’t just shopping; it was optimising everyday life with Instamart. Milk emerged as the country’s #1 essential, with India ordering 4+ packets of milk per second; enough to fill 26,000 Olympic-sized pools. India also shopped big with a user in Hyderabad who placed the single largest single cart of the year at ₹4.3 lakh, checking out with three iPhone 17 Pros.
About Instamart
Launched in August 2020, Instamart is India’s leading quick commerce platform. Present in over 128+ cities, Instamart leverages Swiggy’s technology and delivery fleet to bring groceries and other essentials — from hygiene and wellness, home and kitchen, office and electricals, beauty and grooming, and more — to the doorsteps of Indians in 10 minutes or less.
*All insights and figures are derived from an analysis of millions of Instamart orders placed between January and November 2025 across 128+ Indian cities.
