inDrive, the ride-hailing platform known for its pay-what-you-want model, just closed its acquisition of Pakistan's KraveMart, marking a decisive push into quick-commerce grocery delivery. The deal positions the company to challenge Foodpanda's dominance in Pakistan's rapidly growing on-demand delivery market, where consumer spending on digital services is projected to hit $2.1 billion by 2027. For inDrive, it's a bet that hyperlocal grocery delivery can replicate the success of its ride-hailing expansion across emerging markets.
inDrive is making its most aggressive move yet into quick-commerce. The Mountain View-based company confirmed it has completed the acquisition of KraveMart, a Pakistan-focused grocery delivery startup, though financial terms weren't disclosed. The deal gives inDrive immediate access to KraveMart's network of dark stores and local supplier relationships in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad - three cities where Foodpanda has dominated for years.
The timing isn't coincidental. Pakistan's quick-commerce market has been heating up, with grocery delivery volumes growing 47% year-over-year according to industry estimates. Foodpanda, owned by Berlin-based Delivery Hero, controls roughly 65% of the market, but rising competition from local players like Airlift (before its 2022 shutdown) and Bazaar Technologies showed there's room for disruption. inDrive sees an opening.
"We've been watching the grocery space closely, especially in markets where our ride-hailing business already has strong traction," a company spokesperson told reporters. The statement aligns with inDrive's broader strategy of building multi-service super apps in emerging markets - something it's already executed in Indonesia, South Africa, and Brazil. Pakistan represents the company's first major M&A play to accelerate that vision.
KraveMart launched in 2023 with a focus on 15-minute grocery delivery, targeting middle-class neighborhoods in Pakistan's major metros. The startup raised an undisclosed seed round from local angel investors but struggled to achieve the scale needed to compete with Foodpanda's massive marketing budgets and logistics infrastructure. For KraveMart's founding team, the acquisition offers a lifeline and access to inDrive's 200 million global users.
