Uber Takes Over Africa’s Top Ordering Apps, Creating Delivery Powerhouse

Uber has agreed to acquire German food delivery group Delivery Hero for USD 14.8 B, a deal that would give the ride-hailing giant control of two of Africa’s largest delivery platforms and dramatically expand its footprint on the continent.

Under the terms of the all-cash offer, Uber will acquire Delivery Hero’s operations in 50 markets, including the Glovo and Talabat brands, which have established strong positions across multiple African countries. Glovo operates in Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, while Talabat has a significant presence in Egypt and across North Africa.

The deal, which values Delivery Hero at EUR 41.50 per share, would create a combined platform spanning 99 markets with USD 236 B in gross bookings. Uber expects the transaction to close in the second half of 2027, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.

For Africa, the acquisition could mark a turning point in the continent’s rapidly growing food and grocery delivery market. Uber currently operates ride-hailing services in several African cities but has a limited delivery footprint. By inheriting Glovo’s established merchant networks and last-mile logistics, the company would gain an immediate foothold in some of the continent’s fastest-growing digital economies.

“Through Glovo, Delivery Hero has established a strong presence across several African markets,” an analysis of the deal noted. “If the acquisition receives regulatory approval, Uber would inherit one of the continent’s largest food and grocery delivery platforms, significantly expanding its footprint beyond ride-hailing.”

The acquisition comes as Africa’s digital commerce sector accelerates, driven by rising smartphone adoption, expanding mobile payments and growing demand for on-demand services. The African food delivery market alone is projected to reach billions of dollars in the coming years, making the continent a strategic priority for global delivery companies.

However, the deal is expected to face antitrust scrutiny in several jurisdictions because of the combined company’s market share. To ease regulatory concerns, Delivery Hero has agreed to divest operations in 14 overlapping markets to New York-based investment firm SSW Partners for approximately USD 1.6 B before the transaction closes. Glovo’s operations in Spain and Poland are among the businesses being sold.

Delivery Hero’s management board and supervisory board have unanimously supported the offer and intend to recommend that shareholders tender their shares. Prosus, which holds the second-largest position in Delivery Hero, has agreed to participate by tendering its approximately 17% stake.

Uber has committed to keeping Delivery Hero’s Berlin headquarters open and leaving its German workforce unchanged through at least 2029. For consumers and businesses across Africa, no immediate changes have been announced. Glovo and Talabat will continue operating as usual until the transaction is completed.

But industry analysts expect Uber to eventually evaluate opportunities to integrate technology platforms, logistics operations and merchant services across its delivery businesses. The combined company would have the scale to invest more heavily in logistics technology, route optimisation and merchant partnerships, potentially reshaping Africa’s delivery landscape.