Amazon in talks to buy online grocer BigBasket: Report

BigBasket CEO Hari Menon had denied such plan earlier this year. New report suggests Amazon is in early talks to buy BigBasket.

This isn't the first time that we are hearing about Amazon being in talks with BigBasket. However, in this interview with Moneycontrol, BigBasket CEO Hari Menon had denied such plans earlier this year. Now, a new Bloomberg report reveals that both companies are in preliminary talks.

Amazon already has Pantry grocery delivery, and this acquisition could help it become the market leader in the space. Meanwhile, there are reports that BigBasket and Grofers are in merger talks.

These are just initial talks, and according to the report, it is too early to comment if the acquisition will materialize. Both companies haven't agreed to any terms, adds the report.

Meanwhile, reports are rife that Flipkart and Snapdeal are ready for a merger. It is also known that Snapdeal may offer Rs 193 crore bonanza to its staff. According to this report, if the deal goes through, the founders will give half of their payout ($30 million) for the proposed scheme which would cover all current employees of Snapdeal. Snapdeal has about 1,500-2,000 staffers.

While we believed that the deal between Snapdeal and Flipkart, if completed, would mark the biggest acquisition in the Indian e-commerce space and change the landscape of the sector, Amazon is also ensuring that it stays ahead in the game with the purported BigBasket merger. Flipkart and eBay have inked an exclusive cross-border trade agreement, which will give former's customers access to latter's global inventory. On the other hand, Flipkart sellers will get an opportunity to expand their sales across the globe.