Glovo is now under formal scrutiny by Competition Authority following an investigation that began in February 2024 into the dynamics of the online meal delivery market. The authority’s lead investigator has issued an official statement of objections against the delivery platform, signaling the start of a legal process to assess whether Glovo breached competition laws.
The inquiry uncovered a number of potentially problematic practices. Investigators suspect Glovo may have taken advantage of its dominant market position to enforce unfair conditions on its business partners. The company is also accused of exploiting the economic dependency of certain service providers by imposing unusually low prices, which could be seen as an abuse of power in a sector where small players often rely heavily on major platforms for survival.
If confirmed, these actions would constitute serious violations of competition regulations. The formal notification serves as the beginning of a procedure in which Glovo will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations and present its defense. The process is designed to ensure due process and respect for the company’s legal rights.
The law clearly prohibits any form of abuse linked to a dominant market position or economic dependency when such behavior distorts fair competition. These violations can include practices such as forced bundling of services, discriminatory treatment among partners, or indirect control over resale prices. Essentially, the law seeks to prevent large firms from leveraging their power to the detriment of market fairness.
The broader goal of the investigation is to protect smaller economic actors from unfair practices, maintain healthy market conditions, and ensure consumers benefit from competitive prices and a diverse range of choices.
What happens next will be determined by the full panel of the Competition Authority, which will review the case in detail before making a final decision during a formal session.
