On 20 May, 99Food, a Brazilian meal delivery platform, began the process of registering motorcyclists interested in working on the platform. The operation will be relaunched in Brazil by the end of the first half of 2025, as part of the R$1 billion investment announced by the Didi Group, 99's controlling shareholder. 

The company will guarantee a minimum daily income for riders who fulfil the stipulated tasks, with the aim of creating a more profitable and structured journey for partners.

The takeover of 99Food comes amid intensifying competition in the delivery sector. Meituan, the Chinese group that operates the Keeta app, announced during the closing ceremony of the Brazil-China Business Forum that it will invest around R$5bn in Brazil over the next five years. Meanwhile, Rappi announced in May that it intends to double its partner restaurant base by the end of the year, from 30,000 to 60,000 establishments.

The delivery market in Brazil is expected to generate R$139 billion between 2019 and 2023, with accumulated growth of 50.8 per cent in the period, according to a survey by Euromonitor International. 

(Source: Carta Capital, on 22 May)