Eternal's District adds retail stores and activities section on its app

Eternal expands District app with retail and activities tabs; Blinkit's Bistro adds ₹5 convenience fee amid rising hyperlocal ops costs.

Jun 23, 2025 - 09:03

Eternal's District adds retail stores and activities section on its app

Consumer tech player Eternal has now added retail stores and an 'activities' tab on its going-out app, District, as a part of its efforts to expand its stepping-out division.

The NCR-based company is looking to acquire customers by offering discount coupons, flat discounts, and bank offers on purchases made at these retail stores via the District App. It is also banking on synergies from its sister offering to give out vouchers for food and movies.

The current stores tab features brands such as Souled Store, Heads Up for Tails, Puma, Baggit, and Snitch.

The Deepinder Goyal-led company has also added an activities tab on the app, along with its existing tabs such as movies, events, and dining. Its District app, which competes with BookMyShow and Swiggy Scenes, was launched after the company completed the acquisition of Paytm Insider, an online ticketing app. A quick browse of the sections suggests that the activities tab allows users to book slots in art and craft activities, workshops, games, and kids-friendly activities.

The development was first reported by Inc42.

Bistro tries out convenience fee

Blinkit's 10-minute food delivery offering, Bistro, has been experimenting with convenience fees in some areas. The fee, which can go as high as Rs 9 per order, has been levied only in certain pincodes.

Bistro is the latest player to add additional fees at checkout under convenience fee/platform fee/handling fees, platforms look to offset growing costs associated with their hyperlocal operations.

Earlier this month, Amazon India launched a flat marketplace fee of Rs 5 on all orders; it will not be applicable on Amazon Business (its B2B arm), Amazon Bazaar—the hyper-value platform, and Amazon Now, its newly launched quick commerce programme.

Bistro's move to add a convenience fee comes amid growing focus by hyperlocal platforms on profitability, along with growth.

Edited by Affirunisa Kankudti