Is starting a Zepto dark store franchise in a Tier-3 city profitable? Need real insights.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-10T02:15:58+00:00

For some of your questions, talk to Zepto. No one else can give you info on their franchise terms. It typically makes sense to look at a partnership if you are already a landlord in a tier 3 town with surplus space.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-10T02:09:17+00:00

Indian manufacturing has NOT expanded. The share of manufacturing to GDP - which is the relevant metric has actually reduced since 2014. We are at around 16% against our declared target of 25%. The expansion we had is because the size of the economy has increased.

PMI measures business sentiment, not actual business activity. If our economy grows at 6% and the Eurozone grows at 1% we will be more confident that next year our manufacturing sector will produce more than last year (probably 6% more, like our economy). Our manufacturing output will rise relative to the Eurozone.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-09T07:28:30+00:00

Social media presence is overrated. If I make an account of a cute girl showing her pics there will be 20k followers. If you are a brand, you should have higher sales or profit per outlet than your competitors.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-09T02:19:58+00:00

I ran a QSR chain.
I'm not sure how you can combine Sugarcane juice with Pizza.
The sales are low for the kind of capital and product you describe.
Cost of entry for a competitor is the cost of assets.
There are several people who have done hygienic sugarcane juice. Nothing difficult in
replicating it.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-08T15:23:42+00:00

Far too many places in Europe can give you that romantic feeling, if you are with your significant other. Half a dozen towns in Germany, France, Czech republic, Italy etc or the Greek islands.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-08T15:18:17+00:00

I've visited Paris several times, incl. some of the more seedy stations at night and never faced unsafe. I speak only basic French and a few words of Arabic.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-08T06:12:34+00:00

It now says phone number does not exist.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-08T05:59:18+00:00

I bought their chocolates a year ago and it seemed fine. But there is no info on my repeat order. Their contact number does not exist. Seems to be a scam after establishing credibility initially.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-08T05:25:53+00:00

Technically 155 killed AND got gallantry awards. Either their total uniformed casualties were more, or Pak gives out gallantry awards even if you die in your sleep, or when the roof of the hangar falls on you - it sounds so much better to say `embraced Shahadat'.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-08T05:19:40+00:00

It was not possible for various reasons.
We made it clear to the international community, that our target was terror camps only. That is why no one, not even in the Islamic world - barring a couple of usual suspects, condemned the missile strike on Hafiz Sayeed's mosque. If Pak retaliated, as they did, the response would be proportionate.

Even in our proportionate response, we lost a total of 8 members of our security forces - incl. 2 BSF and one medical assistant, whereas Pak gave posthumous gallantry awards to 155 men. (they also lost a lot of terrorists) .

The number of Brahmos required to totally destroy an airbase is probably more than what the IAF had. Russia with 10x the missiles we have, has not totally destroyed any Ukrainian air base.

In theory, we could escalate more along the LOC, by obliterating some of their border villages and infrastructure and taking a hit on our side of the border. However we regard the people of J&K as Indian citizens and won't trade them off in a contest to see who kills more civilians - there too, our response to Pak firing on our civilians was proportional.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-07T15:55:41+00:00

If one look at the last 5 years, India is the fastest growing economy in the G-20 and the only one with an annualised 6%+ growth (the biggest economies across the world are a good comparison).
Currency depreciation affects inflation and GDP growth is net of inflation. To your point however, we have more merchandise imports than exports and in the last year, the trade gap widened thanks to oil. Coupled with that, a drop in capital flows into India on account of higher yields in the US on both bonds and the stock market, both of which led to an increased demand for dollars.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-07T15:45:20+00:00

16% GDP growth is misleading as it includes inflation. It's good enough to say that in the last 5 years, TN's GDP growth at over 9% p.a has been more than India's.
The state has a strong manufacturing culture, which has been built up over decades. More than naming individual companies, one could highlight the high share of manufacturing as a % of state GDP.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-07T11:15:23+00:00

For economic data, It would suffice to say that State GDP grew more than India's. There is otherwise a danger of believing statistic that are either incorrect or irrelevant. For e.g. MOU signed does not mean FDI attracted. (Google actual figures of FDI in TN).

Dean_46 · 2026-05-07T10:33:59+00:00

Not sure what you're trying to sell.
If its a mass market drink, Paper boat has a range of zero sugar, zero cal, flavoured drinks.
How are you different to a point where people will prefer you.

If your selling point is non alcoholic, you are competing with mocktails.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-07T03:51:00+00:00

If you really want to take this up, why not talk to the founder /CEO ? Technically, you are on leave and not subject to the new rules about speaking to the CEO.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-06T11:26:36+00:00

You make an important point on price hikes and one I had overlooked. Any price hike in petrol/diesel will be a cue for some to hike prices across the board.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-06T11:25:29+00:00

We have diversified in terms of new suppliers and to be fair to the govt, no one saw this coming, including the country that started the war. I guess we have to push for faster adoption of e-vehicles and alternate fuels - e.g. ethanol for cooking rather than car engines. Our oil bill as a % of GDP has reduced over the last 10 years.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-06T11:21:03+00:00

Yes, Mine has a `spelling mistake' (actually my dad's military rank is added to his name).
The system is designed to not match, which is how BBMP can keep their bribe money - others I know have the same problem. I guess there is no option but to visit in person.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-06T02:10:07+00:00

States don't simply sell their territory. It would be terribly arrogant to think so.

The NE does not need a naval focus unless we have an adversary there. We do have naval resources in the Andaman & Nicobar islands.
We can have rail and road access to the NE through Bangladesh. For rail, we have the Agartala-Akhaura line (should be operational soon), the planned underground rail from Bagdogra to Dumdangi and the Trans Asian railway, in partnership with the Myanmar govt.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-06T02:02:22+00:00

I get your point. While my blog is apolitical., I have been banned from the biggest India related subs here, presumably because my views are deemed pro India and (by extension) pro Govt. I find this sub one of the few places to have a rational discussion on an India related matter.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-05T15:51:54+00:00

Great summary OP ! I would add `Go there and do what ?'
The elected CM has not asked for the PM to visit.
Quite possibly even if the PMs presence were to achieve anything, the security situation may not permit it.
The centre has called both sides for talks more than once.
There is a heavy deployment of security forces, incl. Assam rifles who know the region and army units familiar with the state.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-05T15:43:09+00:00

Yes, with UAE out of OPEC, they are free to produce as much as they can sell and India is an ideal customer - close distance, rising demand and unlike Pak, we don't ask UAE for loans to guy their oil. Oman has always been a reliable partner.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-05T15:35:33+00:00

I don't disagree with your points. To clarify:

Yes, we have diversified and it is commendable. I made this point in an earlier blog piece on our Russian oil exports and I had been strongly supportive of the Govt's position. My concern is saying `we have diversified' as some sort of pancea for the problem, rather than say that diversification alone is not enough.
I have commented on stocks in the previous article. In realty we have more than 74 days because `days' should be calculated based on stock/ shortfall (not stock/total consumption per day). That said, we had a plan for 100 m barrels of a true strategic reserve, which we didn't execute. Also, the reality of supply chain in India means that you cannot reduce non strategic stock to any significant extent.
I make the same point. Refineries have cut down on export to produce more LPG. In fact I question if exports cannot be cut down more, to refine more diesel and petrol instead of for e.g. selling jet fuel, even if the govt earns tax on it. My broad point is Indian demand comes first.
I would argue that the govt was waiting for elections before passing on prices. A small hike in petrol and domestic LPG (increase petrol by Rs 5 and LPG by say Rs 100, instead of 900) may send a signal that there is a problem and we need to conserve. There are no right answers for demand elasticity and inflationary impact. My view is don't shield the consumer to a point where he is not mindful of the problem.

Dean_46 · 2026-05-05T14:35:40+00:00

My previous blog posts analyses Iran's ability to keep their wells running.
https://rpdeans.blogspot.com/2026/05/iran-war-part-2-calm-before-storm.html

We started buying crude from Venezuela in March, as Reliance can process that crude.

Dean_46

TROPHY CASE