inDrive Buys Krave Mart to Fight Foodpanda

Global ride-hailing giant inDrive has acquired Pakistani quick-commerce startup Krave Mart following regulatory approval from the Competition Commission of Pakistan, marking a major step in the company’s aggressive expansion into South Asian grocery delivery.

A Strategic Move to Conquer Pakistani Quick-Commerce

The all-stock transaction, which was initially agreed upon last year, has officially cleared regulatory hurdles. Two sources familiar with the matter confirmed that the Competition Commission of Pakistan greenlit the deal, clearing the path for both companies to finalize the transaction. While inDrive has confirmed the acquisition, the company declined to disclose the specific financial terms of the agreement.

Established in 2021, Krave Mart has built a robust presence in major Pakistani hubs, including Karachi, Rawalpindi, and Lahore. The startup specializes in rapid grocery delivery, leveraging a dedicated network of dark stores to fulfill and deliver customer orders in approximately 30 minutes.

Building the inDrive Super-App Ecosystem

This acquisition aligns with inDrive’s broader strategy to diversify its portfolio beyond its core ride-hailing business and establish a foothold in the competitive commerce sector. The Mountain View, California-based company initiated its grocery delivery operations in Kazakhstan in September 2025, later expanding the service to Pakistan in January of this year through a strategic partnership with Krave Mart, which had previously received an investment from inDrive in December 2024.

The capital for that initial investment came directly from inDrive’s dedicated venture and mergers-and-acquisitions division. Launched in November 2023, this arm was allocated up to $100 million to deploy over the coming years, specifically targeting investments that bolster the company’s transition into a multi-service super-app.

“We are pleased with the approval from the Competition Commission of Pakistan as we continue to work closely with Krave Mart to expand access to fast and reliable grocery delivery services across the country, most recently launching in Lahore under the inDrive.Groceries brand,” said Andries Smit, chief growth businesses officer at inDrive, in an email statement.

Smit also noted that both the Krave Mart and inDrive brands will maintain their individual operations in Karachi as the company continues to scale its grocery delivery footprint.

The Battle Against Foodpanda’s Monopoly

Expanding a quick-commerce footprint in Pakistan presents distinct operational hurdles. The local market is currently dominated by Foodpanda, a delivery giant backed by the German group Delivery Hero that has operated in the country for over a decade. Industry experts point out that quick-commerce models are highly capital-intensive and require substantial time to reach profitability, presenting a steep barrier to entry for newer players attempting to scale.

inDrive’s Global Scale and Market Power

Despite the tough competition, inDrive brings massive global scale to the table. According to data from Sensor Tower, inDrive has maintained its position as the world’s second-most downloaded ride-hailing application since 2022. It also ranks as the fourth-most downloaded travel app globally, trailing only Google Maps, Uber, and Waze, with a total of more than 400 million downloads.

Furthermore, Sensor Tower data reveals that the app is the leading ride-hailing service in nine countries, including Peru, Panama, Egypt, Morocco, and Pakistan. Currently, inDrive operates in more than 1,000 cities across 48 global markets, providing a massive user base to leverage as it rolls out its new grocery and commerce services.