The app of quick ecommerce Gorillas closes in Italy. After just one year of activity, the company leaves the market and lays off all staff, 540 people. The decision had already leaked a few weeks ago, on the occasion of the news of the launch of its private label in some foreign markets.
Gorillas invests in 5 countries and closes in Italy
Gorillas has decided to focus on Germany (where it was founded, in Berlin), France, United Kingdom, Netherlands and United States (New York City). That is, the key markets from which most of the revenues (90%) come. In Italy, however, in the 5 cities of Milan, Rome, Turin, Bergamo and Florence, after success during the worst phases of the pandemic, it acknowledges the failure and packs up.
‘Regarding our presence in Italy, we have evaluated and we are still carefully evaluating various strategic and financial alternatives, such as the sale of the company or the entry of new investors’, explains the company.
While supplies last
‘However, to date no negotiations have been successfully concluded and there are currently no negotiations at a level of concreteness to suggest a positive outcome. We have therefore decided to start a gradual process of closing the activity in Italy.
We have already closed 3 of our warehouses in the cities of Milan, Rome and Bergamo, while the other warehouses in the country will be closed in the coming weeks. Until then, and until stocks last, we will continue to guarantee home delivery service to our customers’, specifies Gorillas in a statement dated 4.7.22.
A dream gone wrong
All the couriers (or riders) Gorillas travel on electric bicycles (zero emissions) and are employed with regular work contracts. In Italy, they pedaled for a year, delivering groceries in a matter of minutes. A perfect service for workers and customers. But economically unsustainable.
For the workers the path of dismissal therefore opens.
‘This decision has important implications for our Italian team, which has already been informed of our market plans, and with respect to which we have initiated the procedures required by law and collective agreements for union consultation, preparatory to the dismissal of the entire workforce‘.
Professional journalist since January 1995, she has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and magazines (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). Author of journalistic investigations on food, she published the book 'Reading labels to know what we eat.'
