Delivery Hero, Glovo Hit with Record EU Competition Fines

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The European Commission has imposed a €329 million antitrust fine on Delivery Hero and Glovo for engaging in illegal collusion within the online food delivery market. Announced in June 2025, the action highlights the European Union’s intensified scrutiny of digital platform competition and its readiness to act against anti-competitive conduct. The penalties follow an investigation revealing that the companies participated in market-sharing and no-poach agreements, in breach of Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

EU’s regulatory spotlight intensifies on digital market collusion

At the core of the Commission’s ruling is the violation of Article 101, which prohibits agreements that prevent, restrict, or distort competition within the EU. Between 2018 and 2022, Delivery Hero and Glovo engaged in behavior that the Commission classified as cartel activity. This included dividing national markets and agreeing not to recruit from each other’s workforce.

While such strategies may have been intended to streamline operations during rapid growth, they distorted market dynamics and limited labor mobility. The Commission underscored that these actions harmed both consumers and employees by reducing competitive pressure and job opportunities.

Delivery Hero and Glovo’s anticompetitive behavior spanned multiple nations

The violations extended across several EU countries where both firms operated or planned expansion. Investigators also found that Delivery Hero, after acquiring a minority stake in Glovo in 2021, used that stake to influence Glovo’s competitive strategy.

This finding elevated the case’s severity. It was the first time the EU fined a company for using a minority shareholding to guide a competitor’s conduct. It also combined two novel enforcement areas: employment collusion and cross-border market allocation within platform-based industries.

The Commission’s approach signals a new era in enforcement

This case establishes a precedent for EU antitrust enforcement. It marks the first time that no-poach agreements have triggered sanctions under European law, a type of violation more commonly pursued in US courts. It also expands the understanding of competitive influence, suggesting that even minority ownership can invite liability if it affects competition.

These developments reflect the Commission’s growing focus on labor and platform regulation. The decision signals a readiness to apply long-standing antitrust principles to new forms of digital cooperation and structural influence.

Both companies admitted the infringements and settled with the Commission, which resulted in reduced penalties. Delivery Hero and Glovo issued statements confirming their cooperation and intent to strengthen compliance. Delivery Hero announced plans to revise its internal compliance systems and contract language.

Sources:

• Wall Street Journal
• Reuters