EU Food Delivery Platform Fee and Ranking Investigations

Food delivery apps connect restaurants, couriers, and hungry customers. During COVID, many eateries survived only through app orders.

Commissions often ran 20–30%, plus fees for appearing higher in search. Restaurants said they barely broke even on app sales.

Spain capped delivery fees in crisis periods; other countries considered similar rules while antitrust agencies opened abuse probes.

Italian and other authorities investigated exclusivity—clauses requiring restaurants not list cheaper on rival apps—and alleged opacity in ranking.

Platforms expanded 'dark kitchens' they partly control, worrying regulators about self-preferencing similar to Amazon retail conflicts.

Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat argue commissions fund marketing, courier networks, and fraud prevention; caps reduce service quality.

Investigations remain open—restaurant anger is well documented, but not every fee level has been declared illegal abuse of dominance.

Menu prices rise when restaurants pass commission costs to you.

Local eateries may disappear if apps are their only channel at unsustainable fees.

Ranking transparency affects which restaurants you even see.

Delivery platform power parallels broader gig and marketplace debates.

Platforms dominate local food delivery intermediation in many EU cities.

Excessive or discriminatory commissions abuse dominance.

Bundled ads and premium placement resemble tied selling harming independents.

Self-preferencing of owned kitchens distorts restaurant competition.

Platforms say they provide demand restaurants cannot reach alone.

They argue couriers and insurance costs justify commissions.

They maintain restaurants can use multiple apps and direct ordering.

They warn price caps reduce delivery availability in suburbs.

Ordering direct from a restaurant website may save them commission—many offer pickup discounts.

Compare total price with fees and minimums across apps.

Tips policies vary; read whether tips reach couriers in your city.

Regulatory changes may alter fee structures gradually—not overnight.