DoorDash acquired British food delivery firm Deliveroo for about $3.9 billion as part of its aggressive consolidation in the food delivery market. This acquisition raises concerns over increasing market concentration and the potential impact on competition and workers' rights, given that market consolidation can translate into greater economic power which may be leveraged in more authoritarian ways.

British food delivery service Deliveroo announced on 2025-05-06 that it has agreed to a $3.9 billion takeover offer from its American rival DoorDash. The move was part of a broader set of transactions in the food delivery and restaurant technology space, as DoorDash also announced its acquisition of SevenRooms.

Deliveroo has dismissed 105 riders since April 2024 for allegedly allowing illegal sharing of accounts with undocumented migrants. The move, part of a broader effort to tighten right-to-work checks and comply with mounting government pressure, raises concerns about the treatment of vulnerable gig workers.

A press release by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre links Deliveroo to four reported cases of migrant worker abuses in 2024, raising concerns over labor practices and supply chain transparency.

A report by the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre indicated that Deliveroo, among other food delivery companies, has been linked to multiple allegations of labor abuse affecting migrant workers. The report cites issues such as irregular work patterns, long hours, wage theft, and occupational safety violations. Deliveroo responded by emphasizing its commitment to rider protections and flexibility, but the allegations raise concerns over its labor practices.

LobbyFacts data indicates that Deliveroo has participated in 10 meetings with EU commissioners, cabinet members, and senior management officials, as recorded in the EU lobby transparency register. These meetings, recorded from December 2014 to December 2024 and into early 2025, highlight the company's active engagement in political lobbying.

The UK Supreme Court ruled that Deliveroo riders are not employees, affirming the company’s flexible operating model while denying riders key employment rights. This decision, ending years of legal battle with union groups like the IWGB, highlights ongoing issues around gig economy labor rights, with critics arguing that it undermines protections like collective bargaining.

On November 21, 2023, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Deliveroo riders cannot be recognized as workers entitled to collective bargaining and representation by trade unions. This decision reinforces their classification as self-employed, limiting labor protections inherent to traditional employment relationships in the gig economy.

Deliveroo has strengthened its political engagement by sponsoring and co-hosting events with the Labour Party, including a business reception and regional gala dinner, as part of its efforts to influence political debates on workers' rights. While the company is traditionally non-partisan and also maintains ties with other parties, its active participation in Labour events raises concerns about corporate influence on policy-making in the gig economy.