Fruitas recently acquired cloud kitchen equipment from Foodpanda. The acquisition was made through Fly Kitchen, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fruitas that operates cloud kitchens in Metro Manila.
According to a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange, Fruitas said that the purchase of the equipment will accelerate the growth of its cloud kitchen business. The equipment will also enable Fly Kitchen to expand its menu offerings, improve its service and product quality, and experiment with new recipes.
The sale comes amid reports that Foodpanda’s parent company, Delivery Hero, is in talks to sell its Southeast Asian business, including the Philippines, to its rival, Grab. Grab is a regional super app that provides food delivery, ride-hailing, and other services. However, neither company has confirmed the deal yet and its status is uncertain.
The food delivery industry is facing stiff competition and challenges in the post-pandemic era. According to research firm Momentum Works, Grab had a 60% market share in the Philippines in 2022, while Foodpanda had 40%.
Foodpanda is business as usual despite the equipment sale. The company will continue its service and delivery operations in the Philippines, where it has over 20,000 partner restaurants and merchants. It will continue to serve its customers 24/7, but the opening hours of its partner shops and restaurants may vary.
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