22 Nov 2023 --- The European Commission has carried out unannounced inspections at two companies active in the online food, groceries and consumer goods delivery sector within two member states. 

The move stems from concerns over practices violating EU antitrust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices, but the EC stresses the raids in no way signal any guilt or wrongdoing.

These latest inspections are not isolated events but follow a series of similar actions undertaken by the Commission in the previous year. Last year’s actions were linked to concerns over potential breaches of competition laws.

The European Commission said the ongoing raids happened in two EU countries and are related to those made last July, but did not name the companies that have been investigated, nor the countries.

German online food delivery company, Delivery Hero, is one of the company’s being investigated. 

In a statement sent to Food Ingredients First, a spokesperson for Delivery Hero says: “We can confirm that the European Commission has conducted an inspection at our offices in Berlin and Barcelona.”

“The fact that the Commission carries out such an inspection does not mean that the Commission has concluded that there has been an actual infringement of competition law nor does it prejudge the outcome. Delivery Hero is committed to cooperating fully with the Commission.”