Walmart-owned Flipkart opens two fulfillment centers in Uttar Pradesh

Walmart-owned ecommerce company Flipkart, which competes with Amazon in the Indian market, has announced the opening of two new Fulfillment Centers (FCs) in Uttar Pradesh.

The new facilities include a grocery FC in Varanasi and a sortation centre in Unnao, covering over 5 lakh square feet of storage space.

The centres were virtually inaugurated by the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath.

The new facilities are expected to significantly enhance Flipkart's operational efficiency in the region, reducing delivery times and supporting the local economy.

Impact on employment and local economy

The establishment of these new Fulfillment Centers is set to create more than 3,600 direct and indirect job opportunities in the state.

The new Grocery fulfilment centre in Varanasi and the non-large facility in Unnao will offer customers an expansive selection of products, ranging from local to established brands.

During the virtual inauguration, CM Yogi Adityanath said, "Flipkart's substantial investment in Uttar Pradesh is a testament to the state's growing reputation as an emerging industrial and entrepreneurial hub. These fulfilment centres are not only generating large-scale employment but also empowering the state's MSME units by providing them with a pan-India reach. Millions of customers can benefit from Flipkart's advanced supply chain, which seamlessly processes a large number of orders every day."

Supporting MSMEs and local communities

Flipkart's strategic investments in Uttar Pradesh align with the state’s goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2027.

Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Flipkart Group, remarked on the importance of these investments, stating that they are aimed at strengthening local communities, MSMEs, farmers, and ancillary businesses by supporting their digital transformation journey.

Kumar also noted that the new FCs are part of Flipkart's broader efforts to create employment opportunities in the state.

"The efforts towards enhancing infrastructure, with a growing network of fulfilment centres, will ensure faster and more reliable deliveries to customers. Through key initiatives like Flipkart Samarth, Samarth Krishi and the launch of the new FCs in the state, Flipkart is creating thousands of employment opportunities, thereby supporting Uttar Pradesh's goal of becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2027. The opening of FCs across cities is also a testament to our commitment to meet the evolving needs of customers efficiently," Kumar said.

The company has built an extensive network in the state, including Grocery FCs, Mother Hubs, Last Mile centres, and Jeeves F1 hubs, collectively spanning over 15 lakh square feet. 

In addition to the new Fulfillment Centers, Flipkart has been actively involved in supporting the state’s MSMEs through various initiatives.

Notably, the company's involvement in the One District One Product (ODOP) program has facilitated the sale of district-specific products from Uttar Pradesh, generating over Rs 1,600 crore in sales. Flipkart's Jeeves has partnered with the UP Skill Development Mission to certify technicians under Skill India.

Furthermore, Flipkart’s Grocery service, which currently serves over 1,800 cities and 10,000 PIN codes across India, has expanded its reach significantly, helping to meet the growing demand for online shopping in the country.