Watch Out USPS: Amazon Opens Logistics Network to All Businesses
Uber Eats + Ahold Delhaize, Delivery Hero's Q1 growth, Starship hits 10M, Amazon Supply Chain Services
While we’ve got huge news from Amazon, Uber, Starship and Delivery Hero, there are also plenty of interesting tidbits to be mined from the start of Q1 earnings season: be sure to read to the very end for those!
Today’s edition is brought to you by Urban Autonomy Summit Detroit, convening 6/9.
Today:
Uber Eats Partners with Ahold Delhaize
Q-Commerce Powers Delivery Hero Q1 Growth
Chart Time | Starship’s 10 Millionth Delivery
Amazon Wants To Deliver Your Package
GROCERY WARS | Uber Eats Adds 2,000 Ahold Delhaize Markets
Another big shot was fired in the never-ending delivery grocery wars, with Uber Eats and Ahold Delhaize USA expanding their collaboration to cover nearly 2,000 stores. Ahold operates Food Lion, Giant Food, GIANT, MARTIN’s, Hannaford and Stop & Shop banners in 23 states across the Eastern Seaboard, adding up to be the nation’s 10th largest food retailer (that jumps to third largest when you exclude shopping conglomerates like Walmart and Amazon.) Last October, Ahold began using Uber Direct for first-party deliveries, this expansion marks the first time the grocer will appear in the Uber app.
The Big Picture: The supermarket sweeps are only getting more competitive: fresh off adding new partners last week, DoorDash is also bringing SNAP / EBT payments to its 2,700 Kroger markets across the U.S. Meanwhile, DoorDash-owned Wolt is now one of the top ten grocers in Europe, with monthly retail shoppers growing by over 30% and orders per user increasing by 12% in 2025. Amazon’s claiming an even loftier title, with its internal data showing it’s now the second largest grocer in the United States, thanks to new partnerships with the likes of Winn-Dixie and CUB, plus the addition of one-hour delivery.
EVENTS | The Urban Autonomy Summit Heads to Detroit — June 9th
From delivery bots, to robotaxis to personally-owned AVs, the conversations around autonomous vehicles are only getting more and more interesting. Our acclaimed Urban Autonomy Summit heads to Detroit on June 9th. Apply now to attend, or reach out if you’re interested in speaking or sponsoring.
FINANCE | Delivery Hero GMV Hits €12.5 billion
International 3PD Delivery Hero saw growth pick up in Q1, with Group GMV accelerating to 8.8% YoY, up from 7.9% in Q4, to hit €12.5 billion ($14.6B USD.) Like-for-like revenue climbed 17.8% YoY to €3.7 billion, and the company is projecting Adjusted EBITDA of €910-960 million and free cash flow of €200 million+ for the full year. Quick commerce is of increasing importance to the group, with GMV growing 30% to account for 18% of overall volume, while multi-vertical users (think q-commerce + restaurants) proving more likely to convert to paid subscribers, collectively generating 43% of Group GMV.
The Big Picture: Some markets are proving much more challenging for Delivery Hero: while the Americas (operating as PedidosYa) and MENA (Talabat, Hunger Station) grew GMV 18.1% and 16.1% respectively, growth in Europe (Foodora, Glovo, efood, Foody, Yemeksepeti) was just 6.8%, while Asia (Foodpanda, Glovo, Baedal Minjok) came in at a lowly 3%. Quick-commerce’s share of overall GMV also looks to be much higher in those faster growing markets (see chart.) The company also welcomed Roger Rabalais, formerly of eBay and Prosus, back to its Supervisory Board.
CHART TIME | Starship Hits 10 Million Deliveries
Delivery robotics innovator Starship just dropped off its 10 millionth delivery, as it operates 3,000+ bots in 300+ locations across eight countries. Collectively, it’s driven over 22 million kilometers (13.7 million miles.) Growth seems to be steady state, as the company announced nine million last October, and eight million in April 2025.
LOGISTICS | Amazon Opens Supply Chain Services to All Businesses
Amazon isn’t content to just be the whole world’s store, now it wants to be the entire planet’s logistics network, with the launch of Amazon Supply Chain Services. While the company has allowed some businesses to use its network for the past three years, this expansion brings together the full force of its 200+ U.S. fulfillment centers, 80,000 trailers, 24,000 intermodal containers and 100+ aircraft. Services include full truckload, LTL and intermodal transport, air freight, inbound shipping from China, 2-to-5 day parcel shipping; and bulk storage / distro.
The Big Picture: Amazon Supply Chain Services’ launch partners include Procter & Gamble, 3M, Lands’ End and American Eagle Outfitters. Gray-haired readers may recall that a quarter century ago, Amazon handled the ecommerce / website presence for storied brands like Toys “R” Us and Borders. As they say, caveat emptor….
A Few Good Links
China’s BemiGo debuts autonomous delivery van. DoorDash launches business catering, adds AI-powered tools for merchants, launches Mother’s Day promos, publishes 2025 U.S. Economic Impact Report, expands Lyft + DashPass partnership to Canada, and comes out in favor of NY Gov. Hochul’s proposal to eliminate state income tax on tip (no surprise on DD’s part, but if both parties are now anti-tax… how will we pay for anything?) Gold Days of Grubhub+ kicks off with membership price reduced to 99 cents. Toyota to build hydrogen truck fueling station in SoCal. Supplemental insurer Wellabe partners with Instacart on Health Fresh Funds. McDonald’s overhauls drink branding. Tesla unveils first Semi built at high-volume production line. Toast partners with Preferred Hotels & Resorts. Grab receives first cross-border ride-hail license to serve Singapore + Malaysia; but what about delivery orders? Walmart demos drones at CoMotion Miami. Chipotle expands drone pilot. Food delivery driver juices tips earnings by showing feet on every proof of drop-off pic. Cartwheel adds Grubhub as partner. Target cuts ribbon on first Receive Center. Avride delivery bots roll into Arlington, VA. Q1 highlights: Amazon net sales rise 17%; Chiptle revenue jumps 7.4%; Yum! Brands profit rockets up 71%, led by Taco Bell; Starbucks sees same store sales climb 7.1%; Publix profit falls 21.5%.
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