According to a report by Bernstein, a US-based research firm, India's quick-commerce sector is reaching saturation in major cities, with more than 6,000 dark stores now operating nationwide. This rapid expansion has created intense competition, particularly in the top eight metros, where around 3,800 dark stores are already exceeding the estimated profitable capacity of 3,600 stores. The report highlights that 80% of metro pincodes are served by three or more players, indicating significant overlap and potential diminishing returns. As the sector evolves, companies like Blinkit and Swiggy are exploring strategies to increase profitability by focusing on higher average order values through non-grocery categories. While the next phase of growth may shift towards Tier I and Tier II cities, these markets present structural challenges such as lower population density and spending power. Bernstein notes that the quick-commerce model is already a way of life in the top four cities, but saturation may impact profitability moving forward.