Just Eat's complaint against Glovo for unfair competition dismissed

BarcelonaBarcelona Commercial Court No. 2 has rejected Just Eat's lawsuit against Glovo for unfair competition. The plaintiff was seeking 295 million euros in compensation. In its ruling, the court finds that the platform always acted "within the law" and that the contracts since 2019 guaranteed the autonomy of the delivery drivers (riders), allowing this service on a self-employed basis.

In the ruling, the judge interprets that both companies practice different business models: 80% of Just Eat's business is the physical market and 20% is home delivery. In the case of Glovo it is the other way around, so "the laborization of the riders That's not the only difference.

The resolution also considers food delivery services through digital platforms to be an "innovative and technologically advanced" business and that its regulatory framework is controversial and outdated.

Just Eat filed the lawsuit in November, alleging that Glovo was operating with fake self-employed workers. It also noted that there are numerous rulings condemning the company for this reason and for violating labor law regulations. The judge rejected the lawsuit.

Possibility of appeal

The ruling, which can be appealed before the Barcelona Court of Appeals, considers that "it is perfectly possible to carry out distribution activities through digital platforms under a self-employment regime." In fact, it considers it perfectly possible for employed delivery workers to coexist with other self-employed workers.

The ruling criticizes the work of the labor inspectors, who stated in court that Glovo workers rely on it as "false self-employment." It also highlights their "belligerence" toward the company and its representatives. It also adds that the change in model implemented by Glovo since the beginning of January 2025, consisting of the laborization of delivery workers, has not led to any change in market share.

The head of the commercial court believes that "the suitability of the contracting model with self-employed workers has been proven, which is definitely much more efficient in meeting fluctuating demand, "because it is concentrated in certain time slots."

He also states that delivery drivers prefer the convenience model on one platform or another, in one place or another, or for as long as they want."

The Second Vice President and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, has criticized the judge who dismissed the complaint for unfair competition filed by Just Eat. "I am more concerned about the Spain of" through a message on the social network Bluesky. She also emphasizes that "no company is above the law."