3PLs Shadowfax, Delhivery, Allcargo pivot to vertical quick commerce as dark store race heats up
Third-party logistics firms are betting on vertical quick commerce in fashion, beauty, pet care and D2C, building dark stores for brands without in-house fulfilment scale. Shadowfax Q4 FY26 revenue hit Rs 1,237 cr (+74% YoY) with Rs 56 cr profit; 100 new dark stores planned in FY27. India 3PL market to grow $38.18B to $50.55B by 2031.
What happened
Third-party logistics firms Shadowfax, Delhivery, Allcargo and Amazon Shipping are pivoting to vertical quick commerce in fashion, beauty, pet care and D2C,
Key facts
- Shadowfax Q4 FY26 revenue Rs 1,237 cr (+74% YoY)
- Shadowfax net profit Rs 56 cr vs Rs 10 cr loss
- 100 new dark stores planned in FY27
- Allcargo operational profit +41%
- Delhivery Q3 FY26 revenue Rs 2,805 cr (+18%)
- Delhivery profit Rs 40 cr (+59%)
- Zippee 9 lakh orders Feb 2026, 125 dark stores, 21 cities
- India 3PL market $38.18B in 2026 to $50.55B by 2031
Why this matters
Vertical quick commerce dark-store networks are becoming a strategic moat for 3PLs—evaluate partnership or acquisition of a Shadowfax-style enabler before brand-side platforms lock in exclusive fulfilment deals.