The prominent grocery chain Getir has announced plans to exit Europe, the U.K. and the U.S. to shift its focus on its main market in Turkey, which generates the maximum of its revenue.

Why is Getir leaving the UK markets?

Getir generated only 7% of its revenue from UK markets, which is why it’s leaving the country now. Ever since it entered the UK in 2021, it became a multi-billion-pound food delivery company. In a short span of 3 years, Getir was responsible for creating over 23,000 jobs across Europe.

The popularity of Getir grew in Covid, where its unique selling point was that it had “ultra-fast” delivery where groceries could be delivered on scooters within 20 minutes of ordering.

Getir completed a year in the UK in 2022, where it created 4, 000 permanent jobs in Manchester, Birmingham, London and Portsmouth. The company had also promised to create an additional 10, 000 jobs by the end of 2022.

The shutting down of Getir in other European countries

In 2023, the company saw a decline where it had to lay off a tenth of its workforce, standing at 23,000 employees across Europe. These layoffs came after Getir had already exited Spain, Italy France; and also Portugal as the country returned to offline grocery shopping methods.

Regulatory problems were another reason for the shutting down of the company. In France, it became mandatory to shut down all inner-city depots stocking goods, and in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the opening of new depots was outlawed. Getir storage buildings were known as “dark stores” and local residents often complained of consistent loud noises of the to and fro of couriers at all hours.

Why is Getis exiting the U.S.?

New York City Council’s Gale Brewer stated that these ultra-fast delivery apps such as Getir “misuse” abandoned city-centre retail units.