Quick-commerce platform Instamart reported a massive surge in Valentine’s Day activity, with Valentine-related searches and premium gifting rising nearly tenfold in the week leading up to February 14. Categories such as jewellery, greeting cards, plush toys, and curated hampers registered up to 10X year-on-year growth, highlighting a growing consumer preference for premium gifting. Nearly half of all Valentine’s Day carts were marked as “Orders for Others,” indicating that every second purchase was delivered directly to recipients.
Chocolates emerged as the biggest driver of sales, peaking at 1,042 orders per minute at 11:59 AM on February 14 — the highest per-minute spike ever recorded by the platform on Valentine’s Day. Searches for heart-shaped chocolates jumped 500% week-on-week, while teddy bear orders surged 568% year-on-year. The sexual wellness category also recorded more than threefold growth, reflecting changing consumer attitudes toward modern celebrations.
Kolkata stood out for the highest single-order spend, with one customer placing a Valentine’s cart exceeding ₹25,000, packed with premium dark chocolates, milk variants, curated gift packs, and indulgent add-ons. The high-value purchase underscores the city’s growing appetite for premium gifting trends during festive occasions.
Metros powered the overall “love economy,” with Bengaluru leading gifting volumes, followed by Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai, signalling strong nationwide momentum in quick-commerce-driven celebrations.
