Grocery delivery company Getir has announced that it will be withdrawing from all markets except Turkey, where the firm was founded, as it focuses on its core market.
Getir will leave the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and the US as a result. According to Getir, these markets accounted for just 7% of the company’s total revenue. A company statement said: “Getir will focus on Turkey, its main market where it sees the greatest potential for long-term sustainable growth”.
The company previously pulled out of Spain, Italy and Portugal in July 2023 and, the following month, announced that it would be cutting 11% of its workforce (2,500 jobs) across the five countries it still operated in at the time.
The Istanbul-based firm acquired FreshDirect, an online grocery delivery company based in New York City, in November 2023. Reports claim that FreshDirect will continue to operate in the US.
Launched in 2015, Getir began in Turkey as a grocery delivery app, offering users their goods delivered in a matter of minutes. Since then, it has diversified to offer other services, including GetirMore – which delivers weekly grocery shopping orders – and GetirDrive – a car rental app.
Although no official statement has been made yet regarding UK job losses, Sky News has reported that Getir employs up to 1,500 people in the UK with roles including warehouse staff, managers and riders.
Explaining the decision, a statement from Getir said: “Getir has raised a new investment round, led by Mubadala and G Squared. Getir will utilise these funds to bolster its competitive position in its core food and grocery delivery businesses in Turkey.”
The statement addressed Getir’s employees in these affected regions, saying: “Getir expresses its sincere appreciation for the dedication and hard work of all its employees in the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and the US”.
