Türkiye-based delivery service Getir acquires German on-demand grocery firm Gorillas

By Ovunc Kutlu

ISTANBUL (AA) - Türkiye-based grocery delivery company Getir announced on Friday that it acquired the German firm Gorillas.

"As the global pioneer of ultrafast grocery delivery, we're proud to announce that we've acquired the Berlin-based on-demand grocery delivery company Gorillas," Getir said in a statement on LinkedIn.

"This acquisition reaffirms our long-term commitment and dedication to the sector, and underscores how Getir leads consolidation in the industry. It will allow us to provide an even better service to our valuable customers and affirms our belief that this sector has a bright future," it added.

Though the amount paid for the deal was not disclosed, The Financial Times reported that it was worth around $1.2 billion.

Getir is a pioneer in rapid on-demand grocery delivery with its unique model of delivery in minutes, as earlier this year, it also became Europe's first grocery delivery decacorn -- a relatively new company that is worth at least $10 billion. Its overall valuation rose to $11.8 billion in March with over 35,000 employees.

"Markets go up and down, but consumers love our service and convenience is here to stay. The super-fast grocery delivery industry will steadily grow for many years to come and Getir will lead this category it created 7 years ago," Nazim Salur, the company's founder, said in a statement.

Co-founder Mert Salur said on LinkedIn: "Getir acquires Gorillas as we look forward to the future of ultra-fast grocery delivery in Europe and beyond. We will do our best to welcome people incoming from Gorillas as we remain determined to continue redefining the industry of groceries."

Getir was founded in 2015 as the world's first ultrafast grocery delivery service, operating in nine countries across three continents, which include the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, the US, and Türkiye.

The Berlin-based startup Gorillas was founded in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic, while it cut hundreds of jobs in May this year. The firm operates across six countries in Europe and in more than 40 cities, most of which are in Germany and the Netherlands, according to its website.