Eternal, the parent company of Zomato, Blinkit and District, increased its advertising and promotional expenditure by 41% year-on-year to ₹945 crore in the first quarter of FY27, driven by continued investments in customer acquisition and brand building across its businesses.

The sharp rise in marketing spend was led by Blinkit, as the quick commerce platform expanded its store network and intensified efforts to strengthen its market position. During the quarter, Blinkit added 243 net new stores, taking its total store count to 1,544.

Despite the higher investments, Eternal reported a 20% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching ₹8,927 crore. However, profit after tax declined 36% to ₹127 crore, primarily due to ongoing investments in Blinkit’s expansion and customer growth initiatives.

The company said it remains focused on scaling its quick commerce business before prioritising profitability. Management also indicated that investments in marketing and infrastructure are expected to continue in the coming quarters as Eternal expands its footprint while pursuing long-term, sustainable growth.