European Commission raids online food delivery cos amid cartel concerns
The European Commission said on Wednesday that it had carried out unannounced inspections at the premises of online food and grocery delivery companies in two member states.
The Commission, which did not name the companies, highlighted concerns they may be in a cartel.
"The investigation concerns an alleged agreement or concerted practice to share national markets for the online ordering and delivery of food, groceries and other consumer goods in the European Union," it said.
"Unannounced inspections are a preliminary step into suspected anticompetitive practices. The fact that the Commission carries out such inspections does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself."
Just Eat Takeaway told Reuters it was not aware of any EU investigation into its activities.
"To the best of our knowledge, Just Eat Takeaway.com is not currently under investigation by the European Commission (formal or informal) in respect of any possible deal with other online food delivery providers to 'share national markets'," a company spokesperson told Reuters.