Lieferando to Cut Around 2,000 Driver Positions Amid Strategic Shift

In a significant restructuring move, the food delivery service Lieferando has announced plans to reduce its workforce in Germany by approximately 2,000 drivers, which constitutes nearly 20% of its entire fleet. This decision comes as the company aims to enhance its delivery operations on the critical last mile by increasingly collaborating with subcontractors.

The company's management highlighted that the competitive landscape of the delivery market is evolving rapidly, necessitating a shift in operational strategies to meet customer expectations for reliable service and swift delivery times. With the current operational framework, Lieferando has determined that it cannot consistently meet these demands.

Particularly impacted by this workforce reduction will be cities such as Hamburg, where the layoffs are expected to be pronounced due to the city's size and the density of operations. In smaller markets, including Wiesbaden, Lübeck, and Bochum, the company plans to partner with specialized logistics firms that will be responsible for the deliveries using their own drivers.

Employees and representatives from the company's works council will be informed about the measures during discussions slated for the afternoon. Negotiations concerning a social plan are expected to commence promptly, with the objective of concluding these discussions by the end of the year or early in the first quarter of 2026.

Currently, Lieferando operates under the umbrella of Just Eat Takeaway, a Dutch delivery service. The German operations are managed by the subsidiary Lieferando Marktplatz Gesellschaft, which employs drivers primarily through another subsidiary, Takeaway Express. Although the majority of drivers will remain employed directly by Lieferando, the company indicates that around 5% of its delivery volume will be outsourced to specialized third-party providers. This model has already been trialed in Berlin, and similar implementations will continue in select districts.

The management emphasized that careful vetting processes are in place to ensure that any third-party partners adhere to standards that guarantee fair employment practices for their drivers. However, the food delivery sector has been scrutinized for issues related to worker classification, with many delivery personnel facing exploitative conditions and a significant prevalence of quasi-self-employment.

Concerns regarding these practices have prompted regulatory actions at the European level, including the development of a directive aimed at curbing such employment issues within the gig economy. The transition towards greater reliance on subcontractors may complicate efforts by labor unions, such as the NGG (Gewerkschaft Nahrung-Genuss-Gaststätten), which have long advocated for collective bargaining agreements and a minimum wage of EUR15 per hour for delivery workers.

This latest development from Lieferando is likely to intensify discussions around labor rights and the future of employment conditions within the food delivery industry.