Dark Store Market Report 2026

The dark store market size has grown exponentially in recent years. It will grow from $32.75 billion in 2025 to $46.03 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 40.6%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing online grocery adoption, rise of urban population density, growth of retail e-commerce platforms, demand for faster delivery services, expansion of supermarket chains.

The dark store market size is expected to see exponential growth in the next few years. It will grow to $176.02 billion in 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.8%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to advancements in warehouse automation, adoption of AI-driven logistics, growth of omnichannel retail, expansion of last-mile delivery infrastructure, increased demand for personalized delivery options. Major trends in the forecast period include rapid growth of e-commerce fulfillment, expansion of hyperlocal delivery networks, real-time inventory management systems, optimization of order picking and packing processes, integration of cold chain logistics.

The growth of online grocery shopping is expected to significantly drive the expansion of the dark store market in the future. Online grocery shopping involves purchasing food and household items through e-commerce platforms, with options for delivery or pickup. The rise in online grocery shopping is attributed to factors such as convenience, time savings, better e-commerce technology, enhanced delivery services, and a broader selection of products. Dark stores play an essential role in supporting online grocery shopping by serving as dedicated fulfillment centers that streamline inventory management and delivery processes, ensuring faster and more accurate order fulfillment. For example, in July 2024, a report by Mercatus Technologies Inc., a US-based software development company, revealed that U.S. online grocery sales reached $7.7 billion in 2024, reflecting an 8% increase compared to 2023. Therefore, the surge in online grocery shopping is fueling the growth of the dark store market.

Key players in the dark store market are focusing on developing innovative solutions such as shared micro-fulfillment networks to improve delivery speed, reduce costs, and enhance last-mile logistics efficiency. A shared micro-fulfillment network is a system where multiple e-commerce companies share a centralized, automated fulfillment center to store products closer to customers, enabling faster and more cost-effective local deliveries. For instance, in August 2024, Delhivery Limited, an India-based logistics and supply chain company, introduced a network of multi-tenant dark stores for "rapid in-city delivery" for e-commerce businesses. Multi-tenant dark stores are shared warehousing facilities used by several e-commerce companies to store products for quick, local deliveries. These stores are designed to optimize inventory management and reduce delivery times, allowing businesses to share operational costs while ensuring efficient fulfillment of online orders.

In June 2025, Delhivery Limited, an India-based integrated logistics services company, acquired Ecom Express Limited for approximately $170 million (₹1,407 crore). Through this acquisition, Delhivery aims to enhance its e-commerce logistics capabilities by integrating Ecom Express’s express parcel delivery and last-mile distribution network, thereby improving operational scale, service efficiency, and nationwide reach. Ecom Express Limited is an India-based logistics company specializing in e-commerce fulfillment, warehousing, and last-mile delivery solutions.

Major companies operating in the dark store market are Walmart Inc, Amazon.com Inc, The Kroger Co, Albertsons Companies Inc, Auchan Retail International, Carrefour SA, Tesco PLC, J Sainsbury PLC, Ocado Group plc, BigBasket, Flipkart Internet Private Limited, Instacart, Deliveroo, Swiggy, Wolt Enterprises Oy, Getir, Zepto, Flink SE, Gopuff, Zapp, Rappi, Ahold Delhaize, Woolworths Group Limited, Coles Group Limited, Mercadona SA, Casino Guichard Perrachon SA, Migros Ticaret AS, Costco Wholesale Corporation.

North America was the largest region in the dark store market in 2025. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the dark store market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. The countries covered in the dark store market report are Australia; Brazil; China; France; Germany; India; Indonesia; Japan; Taiwan; Russia; South Korea; UK; USA; Canada; Italy; Spain.

The dark store market includes revenues earned by entities by providing services such as e-commerce fulfillment services, order picking and packing, inventory management, and product sorting and repackaging. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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