Glovo

Glovo is an on‑demand delivery platform that connects users with local couriers for the transport of a variety of goods. The service originated as a food‑delivery solution but has expanded to include groceries, pharmaceuticals, retail items and other everyday essentials. Customers place orders through a mobile application or website, and independent couriers fulfill the deliveries using their own vehicles or bicycles. The company’s model emphasizes rapid fulfillment, often promising delivery within minutes to an hour depending on the item and location. By aggregating demand from consumers and supply from couriers, Glovo creates a two‑sided marketplace that operates in urban environments. The platform’s interface allows users to schedule deliveries for immediate or later times, adding flexibility to the service.

Glovo was founded in 2015 in Barcelona, Spain, where its headquarters remain. Since its inception, the platform has expanded its operations to dozens of countries across Europe, Africa and Latin America, serving hundreds of cities. The company works with a large number of active couriers who facilitate a substantial volume of deliveries each month. Its presence in multiple markets allows it to adapt its service offerings to local regulations and consumer preferences. The breadth of its geographic footprint positions Glovo among the larger independent delivery platforms operating outside the traditional restaurant‑focused model. In addition to consumer deliveries, Glovo also offers a business‑to‑business service that enables retailers to outsource last‑mile logistics.

A distinguishing characteristic of Glovo is its multi‑vertical approach, which allows users to order not only meals but also non‑food items through a single interface. This diversification reduces reliance on any single sector and provides resilience against fluctuations in demand for restaurant delivery. The platform’s technology emphasizes real‑time tracking, dynamic routing and automated dispatch to optimize courier efficiency. In July 2022, Glovo became a wholly owned subsidiary of Delivery Hero, a global leader in online food delivery, following an acquisition that valued the company at a multi‑billion‑euro valuation. The incident reported on April 29, 2021, in which an outdated administration panel was exploited, highlighted the importance of maintaining up‑to‑date security controls; the company responded by blocking unauthorized access, reinforcing security measures and notifying the Spanish data protection authority. Glovo’s continued investment in security infrastructure and compliance reflects its effort to protect user data while scaling its on‑demand network.