Uber has paused its food delivery expansion across most of Europe, according to sources cited by the Financial Times. The ride-hailing and delivery firm will no longer launch in five of the seven countries it had targeted for new operations this year.
The strategic pullback comes as Uber actively pursues a takeover of Delivery Hero, a major competitor in the region. This shift marks a significant change from aggressive expansion goals set earlier, suggesting a consolidation-focused strategy is now underway.
The paused launches affect the majority of planned new markets, though two unspecified countries remain on track. Uber had previously announced intentions to enter seven European markets as part of its global food delivery growth plan.
If successful, the Delivery Hero acquisition would give Uber a commanding position in several key markets where it has now halted direct expansion. This move could reshape the competitive landscape for food delivery across the continent, potentially reducing price wars and operational redundancies.
Sources familiar with the matter did not specify which two markets will still see launches this year, nor did they comment on the timeline for the Delivery Hero deal.