Judge dismisses Just Eat's complaint against Glovo for anti-competitive practices

The judge of the Barcelona Commercial Court 2 has dismissed the complaint filed by Just Eat against the Catalan delivery company Glovo for anti-competitive practices.

Just Eat asked for €295 million from the Catalan-developed platform led by Òscar Pierre, for what they claimed were anti-competitive practices, such as not inscribing riders as worker and using freelance couriers.

Based on the judge's ruling, the delivery app has been operating within legality and considers all contracts between the business and its riders to guarantee their autonomy based on the 'Rider Law.' The 'Rider Law' came into force in August 2021 and was proposed to improve riders' social security and working rights.

Just Eat had complained that Glovo was leading in a competitive market due to its use of "falsos autónomos" (translated as false self-employed), as opposed to the British platform, which had hired its riders.

"Glovo has driven commission rates down through exclusivity agreements, using its position in the industry to do so, and that has severely eroded profit margins,” said Íñigo Barea, Just Eat’s managing director in Spain, during the trial in Barcelona. The trial ended on June 20.

The ruling is not final and can be appealed at the Spanish National Court.