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Frankfurt, Germany: US ride-hailing giant Uber has struck a 12.7-billion-euro deal to take over German food delivery behemoth Delivery Hero, the latest consolidation in the industry, the companies said Thursday.
The German firm operates in over 60 markets worldwide and has expanded beyond its traditional food business to "quick commerce", delivering household items and groceries to customers.
The deal, widely expected after Uber built up a stake in the Berlin-headquartered group, brings together two companies operating in 99 markets which delivered goods and services worth $236 billion in 2025.
"Uber's global mobility and delivery platform and our shared commitment to innovation make this the right partnership to build on Delivery Hero's strengths in local food delivery and quick commerce," said Niklas Oestberg, CEO and co-founder of Delivery Hero.
It is the latest consolidation in the fast-growing global food delivery industry, after US group DoorDash took over Britain's Deliveroo and Prosus acquired Dutch outfit Just Eat Takeaway.
But the huge deal is likely to attract scrutiny of regulators worldwide due to its potential to reduce competition.
Uber will not take over Delivery Hero's operations in 14 mainly European markets where they already compete, with these businesses instead being sold to a US investment firm.
"There is always a risk with acquisitions that the resulting increase in a company's market power will be used to push through higher prices," Kai Hudetz, managing director of the IFH Koeln retail research institute, told AFP.
But he also stressed it was a "major challenge for anti-trust authorities to properly assess acquisitions in the digital sphere".
