• Kuwait-born and UAE-based q-commerce and foodtech Talabat has completed the acquisition of 100% of instashop from Delivery Hero SE for $32 million. 
• With this acquisition, instashop becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of talabat, strengthening its grocery and retail offering and expanding its partner network across the MENA region.
• Instashop will continue to operate as an independent brand within talabat’s grocery and retail vertical.
• Founded in Kuwait in 2004 by Abdulaziz Al Loughani, Mohammed Jaffar and Khaled Al Otaibi, talabat is an on-demand delivery platform for food and groceries with a presence in the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt. In 2015, German e-commerce group Rocket Internet acquired talabat for $170 million. 
• Founded in 2015 by John Tsioris and headquartered in the UAE, instashop is an online marketplace that connects users with vendors. It operates in the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Lebanon, and Qatar and has an annual gross merchandise volume of $300 million.

Press release:

Talabat Holding plc, the leading on-demand online ordering and delivery platform in the MENA region, today announces the successful acquisition of InstaShop Ltd , one of the leading online grocery delivery marketplaces in MENA.

Founded in June 2015 and headquartered in Dubai, instashop is a leading online marketplace that seamlessly connects users with vendors, streamlining the purchase process and providing the necessary logistical capabilities to meet fast delivery expectations of customers. Specialising in the grocery and retail sectors across the UAE and Egypt, instashop offers a wide range of products, including groceries, pharmacy items, beauty essentials, and other personal care products.

In 2024, instashop achieved strong growth, reaching $631 million in GMV, a 16% increase from $545 million in the prior year and equivalent to 8% of talabat's 2024 GMV, with positive and improving EBITDA margins. This consistent performance highlights instashop’s market strength and aligns with talabat's strategy for accelerated expansion into grocery and retail. 

The acquisition of instashop, which will continue to operate as an independent brand within talabat’s Grocery and Retail vertical, enables both platforms to collaborate and share insights to enhance customer experience and partner tools. This partnership offers cross-listing opportunities for partners, broadening their reach, while joint business planning unlocks new growth potential.

Tomaso Rodriguez, Chief Executive Officer of talabat, commented: “We are thrilled to welcome instashop into the talabat family. The acquisition supports and complements our strategy to grow our grocery and retail offering and is a testament to our commitment to enhancing customer experience and providing customers with even greater choice and convenience. By integrating instashop’s innovative platform into our operations, we aim to create a more seamless and efficient delivery experience for our customers across the UAE and Egypt whilst also driving further product and technology synergies across our business. Together, we will unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation, setting a new standard in the online grocery and retail sector.”

Nikola Cabarkapa, Chief Executive Officer of instashop, commented: “Joining forces with talabat marks an exciting new chapter for instashop. We have always been dedicated to connecting our users with their favourite local stores, and now, with talabat’s support, we can amplify our impact even further. This partnership will enable us to leverage talabat’s extensive network and operational expertise, allowing us to enhance our service delivery and continue our mission of providing exceptional convenience to our customers. We are excited about the significant customer and partner benefits this collaboration will bring and look forward to a successful journey ahead.”

The transaction will unlock substantial operational synergies for talabat including the expansion of its partner network through cross-listing opportunities, optimized operations via fleet synergies and shared resources, as well as improved product and technology integration.