Uber is acquiring the catering marketplace ezCater in an all-cash transaction valued at $2.3 billion, extending the range of services offered through its Uber Eats division. Uber described ezCater as a leading U.S. platform for catering and workplace meals, a marketplace for businesses needing large orders, and said the company generated over $2.5 billion in gross bookings over the last 12 months. Founded in 2007, ezCater was bootstrapped for seven years before raising its first $4 million round in 2014. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said catering is a big business and can be a huge revenue stream for restaurants, adding that Uber's reach can bring that experience to millions more customers and help restaurants win more of these valuable orders. The deal is the latest in a run of moves by Uber to grow its food delivery business; the company is also in the process of buying Delivery Hero for $15 billion and is investing in and partnering with drone delivery companies including Zipline and Flytrex.
Delivery Hero SE
Expedia Group Inc.Uber Technologies IncUber is acquiring ezCater for $2.3B in cash, extending Uber Eats into catering and workplace meals
