Uber sues DoorDash, alleging anti-competitive tactics

Uber has filed a lawsuit against DoorDash, accusing them of engaging in anticompetitive behavior by pressuring restaurants into exclusive deals.

According to Uber, DoorDash uses tactics such as threatening restaurants with penalties or demotion on their app to secure exclusive agreements for delivery services. This includes handling orders placed through the restaurants’ own websites.

DoorDash has denied these allegations, stating that Uber’s claims are unfounded and that they provide quality alternatives to merchants, consumers, and couriers.

Both DoorDash and Uber Eats offer apps that connect restaurants, consumers, and gig economy workers for food delivery services. They also compete with their own white-label delivery services, Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive-on-Demand.

Uber alleges that DoorDash controls over 90% of first-party deliveries for large enterprise restaurants and has used anticompetitive practices to dominate the market.

Sarfraz Maredia, head of delivery for Uber in the Americas, stated that DoorDash’s tactics limit restaurants’ freedom and punish them for seeking better options. Uber hopes that the lawsuit will put an end to these unfair practices.

Uber is seeking a jury trial for the case, but the company has not specified the amount of damages being sought.