Can Dutch case destroy online supermarkets’ business model?

Are online-only supermarkets e-commerce companies or just supermarkets? A Dutch court will rule on this hot topic in June, in a case that may destroy online supermarkets’ business model.

Same playing field?

The case is about which sectoral agreements grocery delivery workers fall under, and that is a discussion that has been raging in the Netherlands for years. Online-only supermarket Picnic, as well as delivery companies such as Flink, Getir and Gorillas, state that they are an e-commerce company and therefore do not have to meet the (more expensive) supermarket sector conditions.