Gopuff acquires 8-month old UK grocery startup Dija to expand into Europe

Just a few days ago, we reported that U.S. grocery delivery tech startup Gopuff raised a massive $1 billion in funding, pushing its valuation to $15 billion. The round was backed by high-profile investors including Japanese giant SoftBank and others.

Now armed with billions of dollars in cash, Gopuff announced today it is acquiring a British tech startup Dija to expand into Europe. The total amount of the deal was not disclosed.

Founded eight months ago during the pandemic by former  Deliveroo employees Alberto Menolascina and Yusuf Saban, Dija is a startup offering groceries delivered to customers’ doors in under 10 minutes. Dija operates from hubs within the local communities we serve, helping us achieve our unique 10-minute delivery pledge.

As more people order foods from home, grocery delivery startups have been flourishing since the covid pandemic began more than 18 months ago. Investors have also been paying attention to the grocery delivery space with startups like Dija, Getir, and Gorillas attracting billions of dollars in venture capital.

However, as the online grocery shopping space becomes increasingly crowded, there is pressure on some big players to consolidate, acquire or merge with others.

Gopuff is not the only player in the convenience delivery space. Over the past few years, Uber and DoorDash have also been expanding their footprints in the space. Last year, for example, Uber sold off money-losing units and acquired Drizly and Postmates to get into the lucrative delivery business.

Launched in 2013 by two college students Rafael Ilishayev and Yakir Gola while at Drexel University, the Pennsylvania, PA-based GoPuff delivers daily essentials and groceries in minutes across over 500 U.S. cities. The startup currently operates more than 250 micro-fulfillment centers servicing over 650 U.S. cities, in addition to the recently acquired BevMo! locations.