Gorillas (company)
Gorillas is a German on-demand grocery delivery company with the promise of delivering groceries within 10 minutes of ordering by using dark stores. The users can order and receive the grocery products through the Gorillas application. As of the year 2022, it has been serving in over 60 cities across over 200 warehouses in nine countries. History. The company was founded in May 2020 by Kağan Sümer, Jörg Kattner, Jeff Hester, and Ronny Shibley in Berlin. They promised to deliver groceries and other supermarket goods ordered through its app via bike courier at the same prices as  they charge in the supermarket. Although, it initially started in Berlin, in a short time it spread over numerous European cities and began to give delivery service. Today, Gorillas operates in numerous European cities including Amsterdam, London, Paris, Madrid, Milan, Munich, in addition to New York, USA. In December 2020 the company raised $44 million in Series A funding, followed by $290 million in Series B funding in March 2021 and almost $1 Billion in Series C funding in October 2021. After the last investment round, the startup is valued at 1 billion, thus reaching unicorn status  as the fastest startup ever in Germany (after only 9 months). Sümer has stated the aim to raise $700 million dollars of new financing this year to scale-up the company and turn it into a profitable business. Business model. Gorillas uses the slogan "faster than you" to emphasize the speed of delivery. The business model is based on the American model goPuff, which was founded in Philadelphia in 2013. Gorillas delivers a selection of over 2000 products including fresh fruits and vegetables, drinks as well as favorite household items, by employed bicycle couriers. Exhibiting an environmentalist attitude by  minimizing the traffic and exhaust gas emissions with its concept of delivery by bicycle, Gorillas prioritizes one of its corporate responsibilities by supporting the concept of grocery shopping with sufficient and fresh products when necessary: prevention of food stocking and waste. Controversies. Gorillas has been the subject of criticism by its workers for its terrible working conditions, including inadequate equipment, high pressure to deliver within a short time span, and deliveries weighing too much, causing many to complain of back pain. Additionally, riders report not being paid correctly or on time for their work. In October 2021 Gorillas fired at  least dozens of its employees for participating in a wildcat strike. According to the Gorillas Workers Collective, which "represents the company's non-unionised delivery workers", the amount of fired worked amounted to 350. Since November 2021, Gorillas has taken new steps to improve the working conditions of its cyclists. The company, which purchased 1,200 state-of-the-art e-bikes specially designed to meet the cyclists’ needs, renewed all its cyclists’ equipment including PPE. The company offers its 12,000+ employees benefits such as health insurance, a salary above the minimum wage, paid leave and a complete riders' kit . In Germany, the Netherlands and England, Gorillas has introduced a bonus scheme for its riders, which financially rewards those who complete particularly many orders. Investments. Gorillas, which has been the focus of high-value investments since the day it was founded, has become one of the companies with the fastest rising value and has become a leader in Europe. Gorillas, which rose in value in the Series A funds by $44 million in December 2020, in the Series B financing by $290 million in March 2021, and in the Series C funds by approximately $1 billion in  October 2021, has added a new one to its investment and business partners. Gorillas is tightening its grip on the European flash delivery market: the Berlin-based company has acquired French competitor Frichti and concluded a remarkable alliance with Just Eat. Locations. As of September 2021, Gorillas delivers in 60 cities in 9 countries.