Kolkata is balancing hydration and indulgence this summer, with shoppers filling their online carts with mangoes, coconut water, yogurt and ice cream, according to the latest Summer Trends 2026 report released by Instamart. The report, released on April 29, showed Kolkata emerging as a strong summer consumption market, with the city’s highest-value summer basket crossing ₹10,600. The top orders included coconut water, mangoes, yogurt and ice cream, reflecting growing demand for cooling foods and beverages amid rising temperatures.
Across India, the report highlighted sharp changes in summer shopping behaviour on quick commerce platforms. Products linked to hydration and cooling, including fruits, cold coffee, fizzy drinks and popsicles, recorded growth of up to 300 per cent week-on-week. Cooling appliances such as fans saw demand rise by more than 280 per cent, while sunglasses registered a 650 per cent year-on-year jump. The report also found that dahi emerged as one of the most popular summer staples, outperforming several soft drink and dessert categories. Ice cream demand peaked at 9 PM daily, with chocolate accounting for nearly 28 per cent of all orders nationwide.
In Kolkata, the findings underline the city’s growing contribution to India’s fast-expanding quick commerce economy, with consumers increasingly preferring app-based purchases for seasonal essentials and ready-to-consume summer products.
