La Belle Vie, a French grocery delivery startup, is acquiring Frichti, another food delivery service that was placed under court-ordered receivership. TechCrunch can confirm that the court picked La Belle Vie’s offer over three other offers, as reported earlier by Les Échos.
A Turbulent Story of Quick Commerce and Food Delivery Services in France and Europe
This is yet another chapter in the tumultuous story of quick commerce and food delivery services in France and Europe. Frichti was started in 2015 and had raised around €100 million over the years to deliver ready-to-eat meals for the lunch break. With the COVID-19 pandemic, the company expanded its offering and started delivering groceries as well.
Gorillas’ Acquisition of Frichti and Its Downfall
In January 2022, when Gorillas acquired Frichti, it was seen as a strategic move to expand its presence in the French market. However, things did not go as planned for Gorillas. The company faced significant challenges, including a decline in sales and a failed attempt to raise additional funding. As a result, Gorillas had to place Frichti under court-ordered receivership.
La Belle Vie’s Acquisition of Frichti: A Strategic Move
La Belle Vie’s acquisition of Frichti is seen as a strategic move to expand its presence in the French market and improve its unit economics. La Belle Vie has been profitable for a few months, and it plans to improve Frichti’s unit economics by leveraging its own last-mile delivery model with same-day deliveries.
Why La Belle Vie’s Acquisition of Frichti Makes Sense
La Belle Vie’s acquisition of Frichti makes sense for several reasons:
- Improved Unit Economics: By leveraging La Belle Vie’s last-mile delivery model, the company can improve Frichti’s unit economics and make it more profitable.
- Expanded Presence in France: The acquisition will help La Belle Vie expand its presence in the French market and increase its share of the grocery delivery market.
- Increased Efficiency: By consolidating operations and leveraging resources, La Belle Vie can increase efficiency and reduce costs.
What’s Next for La Belle Vie and Frichti
The future looks bright for La Belle Vie and Frichti. With a combined strength, they will be able to offer a wider range of products and services to their customers, improve their unit economics, and expand their presence in the French market.
About Romain Dillet
Romain Dillet is a Senior Reporter at TechCrunch, covering technology and startups. He has written over 3,000 articles on various topics, including startups, privacy, security, fintech, blockchain, mobile, social media, and more.
