Gorillas

German quick-commerce startup Gorillas is closing its Italian operations, laying off all 540 employees in the country as it enters liquidation procedures. The move, announced in early July 2022, is part of the company's strategic shift to focus on more profitable and promising markets, with Italy deemed not among them. This exit highlights the ongoing challenges within the digital retail and instant delivery sector, where achieving sustainable profits remains difficult despite strong initial investor interest. The shutdown involves shuttering all its Italian dark stores.

Berlin-based on-demand grocery delivery startup Gorillas laid off approximately 300 employees in May 2022, representing half of its global office workforce of 600. This significant reduction is part of a strategic shift to focus on its five core markets—the UK, US, Germany, France, and the Netherlands—which generate 90% of its revenue. The company, which operates in the competitive instant grocery delivery sector, is also evaluating its presence in four other European countries. The layoffs reflect broader challenges in the industry, where rapid expansion fueled by venture capital and pandemic demand has raised sustainability concerns, with many services relying on heavy subsidies and facing scrutiny over their business models and urban impact.