Uber closes Eats operations in eight smaller markets

LONDON (Reuters) – Uber (UBER.N) said on Monday it was closing down its Uber Eats operations in eight markets because they did not offer a clear route to becoming the number one or number two online food delivery operator, its stated aim for its Eats business.

“We have made the decision to discontinue Uber Eats in Czech Republic, Egypt, Honduras, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and Uruguay, and to wind down the Eats app and transition operations to Careem in UAE,” a Uber spokesman said.

“This continues our strategy of focusing our energy and resources on our top Eats markets around the world.”

Uber said its core rides business was unaffected in all of the markets.

Operations will cease by June 4 in the markets, apart from UAE, where they will transition to Careem, its wholly-owned subsidiary operating primarily in the Middle East. About 50 full-time roles would be affected, it said.

Uber said the discontinued and transferred markets represented 1{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} of Eats gross bookings and 4{3c4481f38fc19dde56b7b1f4329b509c88239ba5565146922180ec5012de023f} of Eats adjusted core earnings losses in Q1 2020.