What began in 2015 as a six‑person experiment in Barcelona has evolved into a delivery powerhouse with over 3,000 employees, a presence in 23 markets and more than 1 billion orders processed.
Glovo, the Spanish technology company now part of Delivery Hero, aims to dominate the Q‑Commerce landscape – offering groceries, restaurant meals and retail items on‑demand across 1,800 cities in Europe, Africa and Central Asia.
In its last Series F funding round, Glovo raised €450 million to expand across key markets – as reported by EU-Startups.
“Over the past decade, we’ve transformed what once seemed like a dream – customers having everything at their fingertips, delivered in minutes – into not only a reality but a daily habit and a basic need for millions of people. With more than 1 billion orders processed through our platform, we are just at the beginning of unlocking its full potential to redefine convenience and everyday living for the next decade,” said Oscar Pierre, CEO and Co-founder of Glovo.
Quick commerce, quicker growth
In a decade, Glovo has reshaped urban ordering habits: breakfast pickups, mid‑afternoon snacks and late‑night essentials have all surged beyond the traditional dinner order.
While American, Italian and Asian cuisines remain popular, demand for local specialities – from Spanish tapas to Georgian and Arabic dishes – has grown tenfold over five years.
Glovo’s Q‑Commerce arm now generates over €1 billion in annual turnover, with grocery and retail categories each expanding by roughly 50% in 2024. The promise of under‑30‑minute deliveries underpins that success.
“Q-Commerce remains at the heart of our vision to transform how people access anything in their cities, and we keep working on faster, easier, and more personalised experiences for our customers. By digitising groceries and scaling and diversifying our retail offering, we’re building the largest online marketplaces in urban areas,” added Pierre.
Legal storms: from fines to full employment
However, Glovo’s rapid ascent has collided with Spain’s labour reforms.
In December 2024 the company announced it would convert its approximately 15,000 riders from self‑employed contractors into salaried employees, bowing to the 2021 riders’ law and an “avalanche of hefty fines” that exceeded €200 million for misclassifying workers.
That decision came just before Pierre faced criminal proceedings for allegedly keeping riders falsely labelled as freelancers despite a 2020 Supreme Court ban on the practice.
Glovo also faces a competition lawsuit from Just Eat in Barcelona’s commercial courts, seeking €295 million in damages for unfair competition due to Glovo’s hiring practices.
Meanwhile, Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz praised the move toward full employee status.
Boosting SMEs – one delivery at a time
Despite legal headwinds, Glovo’s ecosystem has generated over €18.5 billion in revenue for its 150,000+ business partners – 90% of which are SMEs.
Initiatives such as Glovo Local, Glovo Academy and the SME Booster campaign continue empowering local shops and restaurants with digital tools, funding and visibility.
“Glovo has been a key partner in VICIO’s growth since day one. They were the first to believe in our project when everything was just starting, and today, ten years later, we’re still building together. Thanks to their continued commitment and an agile, efficient operation, we’ve been able to take VICIO to the next level, now reaching over 12 cities with more than 30 locations. This partnership has been essential in making our concept shine in many corners of the country. Congratulations to the entire Glovo team on these 10 years of innovation, dedication, and success”, said Oriol de Pablo, Co-founder and CEO of VICIO.
Delivering impact beyond commerce
Glovo’s riders have earned over €3.1 billion since 2015, and the company’s Couriers Pledge (now Glovo+) offers insurance, bonuses and education to those couriers.
Its Impact Fund channels a portion of every order into social and environmental initiatives, with Glovo Access helping NGOs distribute 16 million social meals since 2020 and aiming for a further 14 million in 2025.
“Reflecting on our first decade, Glovo has intentionally built a tech ecosystem that not only powers local economies – fostering the growth of small businesses, providing flexible earning opportunities for riders, and connecting millions to essential services – but also embodies a fundamental belief: modern companies must be both financially sustainable and generate a positive impact on society,” emphasises Sacha Michaud, Glovo’s Co-founder and VP of Global Affairs. “Our belief is that our business success will be driven by creating real value for communities, driving long-term impact, and building more inclusive and sustainable urban living.”
In addition to this, Pierre and Michaud launched VC firm Yellow alongside Adam Lasri, a €30 million fund dedicated to pre-Seed investments in Europe – as reported by EU-Startups.
Looking ahead: Regulation, responsibility, and the race for relevance
Glovo’s journey over ten years has been a rollercoaster of rapid growth, innovation and legal reckoning. As it adapts its employment model and weathers lawsuits, the company’s ability to balance convenience, compliance and community impact will define its next decade — one 30‑minute delivery at a time.
Further reading
Interested in learning more about Glovo’s journey? Read some of our key coverage and listen to the EU-Startups Podcast episode featuring Michaud.