Gorillas (company)

The company was founded in May 2020 by Kağan Sümer, Jörg Kattner, Jeff Hester, and Ronny Shibley in Berlin. They aimed to deliver groceries and other supermarket goods ordered through its app by bike courier, charging supermarket prices.

Initially starting in Berlin, it rapidly spread to dozens of European cities and expanded in America. In 2022, Gorillas operated in multiple cities including Amsterdam, London, Paris, Munich and New York, USA.{{cite web |date=March 14, 2022 |title=Gorillas is carbon neutral in all own operations|work=Gorillas Blog|url=https://gorillas.io/en/blog/gorillas-is-carbon-neutral-in-all-own-operations}}

In December 2020, the company raised $44 million in Series A funding, followed by $290 million in Series B funding in March 2021 and almost $1 billion in Series C funding in October 2021.{{Cite web|last=O'Hear|first=Steve|date=December 11, 2020|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/12/11/gorillas/|title=Gorillas, the on-demand grocery delivery startup taking Berlin by storm, has raised $44M Series A|website=TechCrunch}}{{Cite web|last=O'Hear|first=Steve|date=March 25, 2021|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/25/gorillacorn/|title=Gorillas, the on-demand grocery delivery startup, raises $290M and 'surpasses' $1B valuation|website=TechCrunch}}{{Cite web|last=Lomas|first=Natasha|date=October 19, 2021|url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/10/19/gorillas-grabs-close-to-1bn-series-c-values-the-on-demand-grocery-delivery-biz-at-2-1bn/|title = Gorillas grabs 'close to' $1BN, Series C values the on-demand grocery delivery biz at $2.1BN|website=TechCrunch}} The last investment round, valued the startup at 1 billion, making it a unicorn in just 9 months, the fastest company in Germany to do so.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.de/gruenderszene/food/gorillas-tencent-unicorn-c/|title=Exklusiv: Gorillas steigt mit 245-Millionen-Runde zum Unicorn auf|trans-title=Exclusive: Gorillas rises to Unicorn with 245 million round|first=Lisa|last=Ksienrzyk|date=March 31, 2021|website=Business Insider|language=de}}

Sümer stated in 2022 that his aim was to raise $700 million of new financing to expand the company and make it profitable.{{Cite news |last1=Levingston |first1=Ivan |last2=Tan |first2=Gillian |last3=Tse |first3=Crystal |date=February 25, 2022 |title=Startup Gorillas Planning to Raise $700 Million of New Funding |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-02-25/startup-gorillas-planning-to-raise-700-million-of-new-funding}}{{cite web |author= |date=2022-02-27 |title=Delivery Startup Gorillas Looks to Raise $700M |url=https://www.pymnts.com/news/delivery/2022/grocery-delivery-startup-gorillas-looks-to-raise-700m/ |access-date=2022-02-28 |website=PYMNTS |language=en-US}}

In June 2022, Gorillas announced it would launch its own products for sale in Germany, France, the Netherlands and England. Items sold under Gorillas' label include spreads, pasta, coffee and beer.{{cite web | date=June 6, 2022| url=https://gorillas.io/en/blog/gorillas-enters-the-private-label-market | title=Gorillas enters the private label market | website=Gorillas Blog}}

Following its rapid expansion in the first two years of its existence, Gorillas failed to live up to financial expectations. As a consequence, in 2022, it ended operations in Belgium, Italy and Spain. In England, it closed all operations with the exception of those in London. It also cancelled plans to enter other markets such as Switzerland and Australia.{{Cite web |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |date=2022-05-24 |title=Berlin's Gorillas lays off 300, exits four markets |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/05/24/berlins-gorillas-lays-off-300-explores-strategic-options-in-4-countries-as-funds-dry-up-for-its-3b-instant-grocery-play/ |access-date=2023-04-17 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

In December 2022, Getir, a competitor based in Istanbul, acquired Gorillas for $1.2 billion.{{cite news |last1=Cantrill |first1=Aggi |last2=Kandemir |first2=Asli |last3=Tan |first3=Gillian |title=Rapid-Delivery Startup Getir Buys Rival Gorillas in $1.2 Billion Deal |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-12-09/getir-buys-quick-commerce-rival-gorillas-in-1-2-billion-deal?srnd=premium&sref=CIpmV6x8 |access-date=9 December 2022 |work=Bloomberg |date=9 December 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Cameron |first=Isabel |date=2023-03-01 |title=Getir to cut hundreds of jobs as it delays office move |url=https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2023/03/01/getir-job-cuts/ |website=Charged |access-date=2023-03-13 |language=en-US}}

Gorillas' slogan is faster than you, emphasizing speedy delivery.

The business model is based on that of goPuff, which was founded in Philadelphia in 2013.{{Cite web|last=Schader|first=Peer|date=2020-06-08|title=Der rollende Supermarkt: Gorillas verspricht die 10-Minuten-Lebensmittel-Lieferung in Berlin|trans-title=The rolling supermarket: Gorillas promise 10-minute food delivery in Berlin|url=https://www.supermarktblog.com/2020/06/08/der-rollende-supermarkt-gorillas-verspricht-die-10-minuten-lebensmittel-lieferung-in-berlin/|access-date=2022-01-21|website=Supermarktblog|language=de-DE}}

Gorillas sells over 3600 products including fresh fruit and vegetables, drinks and some household items, which are delivered by bicycle couriers. Food not sold within the best-before date is either given employees, given to charity or local food banks, or sold to customers at a significant discount.

{{Further|2021 Gorillas strikes}}

Some employees have criticized Gorillas for bad working conditions, including inadequate equipment, pressure to deliver quickly, and deliveries weighing too much, causing many to complain of back pain. Riders also report not being paid correctly or on time.{{cite web|last1=Geiger|first1=Gabriel|date=May 24, 2021|title=Riders for Europe's Delivery 'Unicorn' Report Grueling Delivery Times and Back Pain|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kv89q/riders-for-europes-delivery-unicorn-report-grueling-delivery-times-and-back-pain|access-date=5 December 2021|website=vice.com|publisher=Vice}}

In October 2021 Gorillas fired 350 employees in Berlin for participating in a wildcat strike.{{cite web|last1=Geiger|first1=Gabriel|date=October 5, 2021|title=Gorillas Delivery App Fires Workers for Striking|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/7kvgmd/gorillas-delivery-app-fires-workers-for-striking|access-date=5 December 2021|website=vice.com|publisher=Vice}} According to the Gorillas Workers Collective, which "represents the company's non-unionised delivery workers".{{cite web|last1=Bateman|first1=Tom|title=Gorillas delivery app fires hundreds of Berlin workers for strikes over pay and working conditions|url=https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/10/08/gorillas-delivery-app-fires-hundreds-of-berlin-workers-for-strikes-over-pay-and-working-co|access-date=5 December 2021|website=euronews.com|date=8 October 2021|publisher=Euronews}}

In November 2021 the company purchased 1,200 state-of-the-art e-bikes specially designed to meet its cyclists' needs and renewed all its cyclists' equipment including PPE.{{cite web |title=Gorillas is renewing its fleet with 1,200 e-bikes |work=Gorillas Blog |date=23 November 2021|url=https://gorillas.io/en/blog/gorillas-is-renewing-its-fleet-with-1-200-e-bikes|location=Berlin}} The company said that it offered its 10,000 employees benefits including health insurance, a salary above the minimum wage, paid leave and a complete riders' kit. In Germany, the Netherlands and England, Gorillas introduced a bonus scheme for its riders.{{cite web |title=Riders share their feedback on new bonus program|work=Gorillas Blog |url=https://gorillas.io/en/blog/gorillas-riders-bonus-program|date=14 January 2022}}

In February 2023, The Independent reported that Gorillas' “Whatever London Wants” advertising campaign had been "banned over ‘irresponsible’ drug, sex and alcohol content" and for "featuring 'irresponsible' references to drug use and excessive alcohol consumption." The watchdog stated "that the adverts normalised illicit drug use and harmful drinking."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gorillas-food-delivery-adverts-banned-b2282662.html | title=Adverts for food delivery service banned over 'irresponsible' drug, sex and alcohol content|first=Andy|last=Gregory|magazine=The Independent|date=16 Feb 2023|access-date=16 Feb 2023}}

Gorillas has been the focus of high-value investments since it was founded. Gorillas' value in round A funds rose by $44 million in December 2020, in round B financing by $290 million in March 2021, and in round C funds by approximately $1 billion in October 2021. The company acquired French competitor Frichti and entered into an alliance with Just Eat.{{Cite news|last=Dillet|first=Romain|date=January 24, 2022|title=Gorillas to acquire Frichti in latest instant grocery consolidation |work=TechCrunch |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/01/24/gorillas-to-acquire-frichti-in-latest-instant-grocery-consolidation/}}{{Cite news |last=Cameron |first=Isabel |date=11 March 2022 |title=Gorillas finalises Frichti acquisition |work=Charged |url=https://www.chargedretail.co.uk/2022/03/11/gorillas-finalises-frichti-acquisition/ }}{{Cite news |last=Neerman |first=Pauline |date=10 March 2022 |title=Gorillas acquires Frichti, joins Just Eat collaboration |work=RetailDetail |url=https://www.retaildetail.eu/en/news/food/gorillas-acquires-frichti-joins-just-eat-collaboration}}

Gorillas used to operate in around 35 cities across four countries, prior to it closing permanently in May 2024.

{{portal|Companies|Food}}

• Online food ordering

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|https://www.gorillas.io/en}}

{{Online food ordering}}

Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions

Category:British banned television advertisements

Category:Retail companies established in 2020

Category:Internet properties established in 2020

Category:Online food ordering

Category:2020 establishments in Germany

Category:Food and drink companies based in Berlin