Riders bid emotional goodbye to Deliveroo, 'thanks for job opportunities in past few years'

10-03-2025 18:37 HKT

Online delivery platform Deliveroo announced on Monday its decision to withdraw from its Hong Kong operations, which has elicited a mixed response from the community, including various deliverymen.

Internet users expressed surprise at the announcement, as they had not anticipated the company's prompt exit from the market, particularly after routinely inviting celebrities such as Louis Koo Tin-lok and Anthony Wong Chau-sang for marketing.

Conversely, some commentators indicated that the company has faced increasing pressure from competitors, such as keeta and Foodpanda, in recent years.

They attributed Deliveroo's business strategies failing to adapt to evolving market conditions.

Several individuals expressed gratitude towards Deliveroo for its service, while others pondered which delivery provider would emerge as the market leader.

Additionally, numerous delivery riders conveyed their sadness regarding Deliveroo's departure, expressing appreciation for the employment opportunities the company had provided over the years.

While some applauded Deliveroo's flexible work regulations for delivery riders, others pointed out a noticeable decline in the company's order volume in recent years.

Li, a delivery rider with six years of experience, believed Deliveroo's withdrawal would have a limited impact on the market. He noted that the volume of orders from Deliveroo was significantly lower than that of its competitors, coupled with reduced pay.

Another deliveryman, surname Wong, noted a significant fall in Deliveroo orders following keeta's entry into the Hong Kong market, raising concerns that the remaining platforms may exploit workers more aggressively with less competition.

According to findings from the previous year, keeta captured roughly 44 percent of the city's takeaway market share as of March, while Foodpanda's share decreased from 60 percent to 41.6 percent.

As Deliveroo's operations in Hong Kong are scheduled to cease on April 7, the company will provide its members with a complimentary six-month subscription to PandaPro membership.

(File Photo)