Cartel scandal: Delivery Hero has to pay 223 million euros!

Cartel scandal: Delivery Hero has to pay 223 million euros!

Berlin, Deutschland - The European Commission has occupied the Delivery Hero food delivery service with a antitrust penalty of 223 million euros. This significant decision, which was published on June 2, 2025, results from the determination that Delivery Hero and the former competitor Glovo had agreed a waiver of a noble for employees. Glovo, which is now a subsidiary of Delivery Hero, was also a punishment of 105.7 million euros. This punishment is particularly sensational, since it is the first sanctioning of a descending stop that significantly reduces the competition in the industry, such as OE24 reported.

EU competition commissioner Teresa Ribera emphasized the negative effects of such agreements on employees. Both companies admitted misconduct, which led to a reduction in their punishments by ten percent. This decision was followed by months of investigation, which also included two house searches in the companies' offices, including the Delivery Hero headquarters in Berlin. The suspicion of illegal agreements on the market classification and the exchange of sensitive information about prices and sales strategies was said.

Investigations and allegations

The EU Commission had previously initiated a comprehensive antitrust procedure against Delivery Hero and Glovo, which met with suspicion that the two companies were involved in illegal agreements in the area of online orders and delivery of food. Among other things, the investigation showed that both companies were subject to the allegation of the market division that originated before the full takeover of Glovevery Hero in July 2022 [rbb24] (https://www.rbb24.de/wirtschaft/2024/berlin-eu-kommission-kartell procedure delivery-hero.html).

In addition to the high fine, Delivery Hero announced in July 2023 to provide a provision of over 400 million euros to cover possible antitrust penalties. The company, which has been listed in the MDAX on the Frankfurt stock exchange since 2017, is active in more than 70 countries and operates partnerships with around 500,000 restaurants. Glovo, on the other hand, works in 25 countries, which illustrates the range and the influence of both companies in the global food delivery market.

competition rules in the EU

The strict regulations for the protection of free competition in the EU contain clear guidelines against contrary practices that are considered cartels. These included practices include price agreements, the division of markets and the exchange of strategic information between competitors. Such violations can lead to fines of up to 10 % of global annual sales, which underlines the seriousness of the situation for companies such as Delivery Hero and Glovo Europa.eu.

The European competitive rules apply directly to all Member States, and the responsible courts are responsible for enforcement. In some countries, managing directors also face severe punishments for violations of these rules, including prison terms. The recommendations for avoiding competitive practices also ensure that companies maintain transparency and fairness to protect competitive conditions on the market.