BPCL eyes E-comm, payment gateway in non-fuel push; looks to deliver groceries along with LPG cylinders

Mumbai: State-run Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) will deliver groceries at your doorstep along with LPG cylinders.

To further its non-fuel revenue, the company is stepping up its ecommerce ambitions, looking to take on the likes of Zepto and Blinkit by leveraging its vast network of fuel stations and LPG distributors, while also preparing to launch its own payment gateway to capture digital transactions at its retail outlets.

Also read: Instamart ties up with HPCL to launch India’s first on-demand LPG cylinder delivery on quick commerce


BPCL plans to integrate the payment ecosystem into its Hello BPCL app, allowing customers to make payments directly through the company's platform when they transact at its fuel stations.

"BPCL has a very large customer base, and it thinks in some areas it can capture the market. So, it has decided to venture into ecommerce through our existing retail network," said a senior industry official aware of the development.

BPCL aims to strengthen its non-fuel business by creating a differentiated retail ecosystem, he said.

BPCL did not respond to an email seeking comment.

During the last fiscal year, the company upgraded its cafe formats, convenience retail, customer amenities and loyalty programmes to transform its retail outlets into comprehensive mobility and lifestyle destinations.

"BPCL will be serving customers through our In&Out retail stores at the petrol pumps and are turning our LPG distributorship into dark stores," the industry official said, adding that select LPG dealerships are being used as fulfilment points, stocking household essentials, groceries, FMCG products and consumer durables. Customers can order products through BPCL's app and have them delivered along with their LPG cylinders. The company is doing pilot projects in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.

The pilot is said to have shown promise but has not yet achieved the volumes initially expected, with BPCL facing stiff competition from established quick commerce platforms. "It's good, but not 100% success. Whatever volumes were expected have not come yet. It is only the starting point," the industry official said.