India, March 16 -- There's been a lot of chatter lately about quick commerce and traditional retail- especially neighbourhood kirana stores- being locked in some kind of rivalry. Some argue that one must replace the other, but this is an oversimplification of how retail functions. The reality is far more nuanced.

Dark stores are experiencing rapid expansion in India, with the global dark store market projected to reach $275.5 Bn by 2032, growing at a staggering 38% CAGR. This shift underscores the increasing role of quick commerce in ecommerce fulfillment and logistics.

However, this does not signal the decline of kirana stores-the true backbone of Indian retail. Instead, these small-format stores are adapting to new consumer trends and...