Nykaa hires former Instamart COO Ankit Jain to lead quick-commerce push

Ankit Jain will lead Nykaa Now as the beauty retailer expands rapid delivery beyond 13 cities, using AI-led forecasting, fulfilment upgrades and its 320-store network to build hyperlocal capacity.

— Source publishedTue, 28 Jul, 2026, 14:19 IST·First seen Tue, 28 Jul, 2026, 14:25 IST·Source Business Standard · Companies

What happened

Nykaa appointed former Swiggy Instamart COO Ankit Jain to lead Nykaa Now, strengthening AI-led forecasting, fulfilment and supply-chain operations. The beauty

Key facts

  • 30 to 60 minutes delivery promise for Nykaa Now
  • more than 1,000 brands
  • 13 cities
  • FY30 expansion target
  • 90% of orders targeted for same-day or next-day delivery
  • 320 retail stores
  • 2 to 3 hours delivery via Nykaa Express
  • nearly two decades of experience

Why this matters

Nykaa’s quick-commerce buildout could increase its appetite for hyperlocal logistics, fulfilment-tech and last-mile partnerships that accelerate city-level scale.

What to watch

  • City count, delivery-time promise and order-volume disclosures for Nykaa Now.
  • Same-day/quick-commerce contribution to beauty GMV, repeat rates, average order value and contribution margin.
  • Evidence of new store fulfilment technology, dark-store openings, rider partnerships or hyperlocal logistics hires.
  • Expansion of rapid-delivery assortment into premium beauty, dermocosmetics, fragrances and wellness.
  • Competitive responses from Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart, Swiggy, Tata CLiQ Palette and Sephora India.
  • Changes in Nykaa’s fulfilment costs, inventory turns, discount intensity and EBITDA-margin guidance.
  • Expand Nykaa Now beyond 13 cities through store-led micro-fulfilment, prioritising dense metros and high-value catchments.
  • Deploy AI forecasting to identify fast-moving local SKUs, reduce stock-outs and allocate inventory separately for rapid-delivery demand.
  • Build a narrower quick-commerce assortment around replenishment, trending products, gifting and high-margin exclusive brands.
  • Negotiate brand-funded promotions and rapid-delivery exclusives to protect contribution margins.
  • Integrate Nykaa Now more deeply into the main app through urgency-led discovery, subscriptions, loyalty benefits and personalised replenishment prompts.
  • Test dedicated fulfilment nodes or dark-store partnerships in markets where store coverage cannot meet delivery-time promises.