Maharashtra Food Chief Suspends 12 Quick Commerce Warehouses

Food safety authorities in the Indian state of Maharashtra have significantly escalated enforcement actions against major players in the rapid grocery and restaurant sectors. State food safety chief Tukaram Mundhe ordered the immediate suspension of operating permits for 12 distribution warehouses belonging to prominent Indian quick-commerce platforms Eternal, Swiggy, and Zepto. The regulatory interventions followed inspections that uncovered widespread cockroach infestations and other unhygienic conditions inside the storage facilities.

The sweeping raids target India's burgeoning quick-commerce sector, where platforms compete aggressively to deliver everyday groceries and household goods to urban households within minutes. According to Business Recorder, the department led by the 51-year-old official also ordered the closure of four outlets belonging to Domino's, which stands as the largest fast-food chain operating in India. These latest actions follow earlier regulatory steps by Mundhe that resulted in the shutdown of several popular restaurants in Mumbai for failing to meet basic hygiene standards.

Although reports detailing food contamination are relatively common across India's broader food industry, strict regulatory enforcement of health guidelines has historically remained rare. Mundhe’s unyielding approach is gathering widespread public and news media attention across the region as inspectors systematically penalize commercial entities regardless of brand size. The ongoing state campaign highlights a growing focus on food safety compliance across both traditional dining venues and high-speed delivery networks.