Gorillas is tightening its grip on the European flash delivery market: the Berlin-based company has acquired French competitor Frichti and concluded a remarkable alliance with Just Eat.
Battle ended
Gorillas and Frichti have been competing in the French and Belgian markets for some time: both are trying to outdo each other in cities like Bordeaux, Brussels, Lille and Paris. Now, however, Gorillas puts an end to the competition: the German start-up has acquired Frichti altogether.
After a month and a half of negotiations, both parties have reached a deal, Internetworld reports. The companies did not disclose the amount involved in the transaction, but did point out that Frichti will remain active in France and Belgium under its own brand name – meaning nothing will change for consumers for the time being.
For Gorillas, the acquisition does mean access to a new range and know-how. Frichti initially focused on the delivery of ready meals and, unlike many competitors, is said to be profitable. Gorillas does not offer any private labels or ready-to-eat meals at this time, so with the help of Frichti, the flash delivery company now wants to look at how it can scale up further.
Order at Just Eat, Gorillas delivers
On the Spanish market, Gorillas enters into a special collaboration: the Germans are joining forces with meal delivery company Just Eat. The Spanish division of Just Eat Takeaway will deliver groceries to customers’ homes via Gorillas deliverers from the (currently) fourteen dark stores of the flash delivery company in the cities of Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid and Valencia. In this way, Just Eat is taking its first steps in offering online groceries.
“Through collaborations with various partners, Just Eat Spain offers consumers the possibility to purchase a wide range of fresh ingredients, hygiene and cleaning products, a service that is increasingly in demand among Spaniards”, the company explains in a press release. Users can simply order their groceries through the Just Eat platform, but Gorillas takes care of the delivery: a clear case of ‘coopetition’, the trend where competitors start working together in front of or behind the scenes.
