Dive Brief:
- Ethnic e-grocer Weee is acquiring online Asian food delivery company Ricepo, according to a press release on Thursday.
- The acquisition helps Weee expand in the restaurant delivery space as it responds to customer demands for more “diverse and authentic food-at-home options,” per the press release.
- The announcement comes at a time when Weee is scaling its business in the U.S. and looking to gain advantages among online companies focused on international foods.
Dive Insight:
As Weee aims to fill the need for authentic Asian and Hispanic groceries with next-day delivery, Ricepo adds more meal options.
Founded in New York in 2013 and headquartered in Silicon Valley, Ricepo says on its website that it works with up to 1,000 restaurants and is available in more than 40 U.S. cities, as well as in Barcelona, London and Paris. The app is available on iOS and Android.
Weee currently works with more than 300 restaurant partners, CEO and Founder Larry Liu said in the announcement.
“RICEPO will let us continue to delight and serve our growing customer base as a one-stop shop for delicious food at home,” he said.
Weee's growth in the restaurant delivery space comes as tech companies like DoorDash and Uber are expanding their platforms to include restaurant and grocery delivery. DoorDash recently began piloting a tool with Albertsons that lets shoppers add a restaurant order onto their grocery delivery.
Founded in 2015, Weee has expanded its geographic range and assortment to become the leading Asian and Hispanic e-grocer in the U.S. It has delivery service in 40 states and Washington, D.C.
Weee has been scaling its operations and hiring executives with experience at top companies as it prepares for an initial public offering. In March, the company announced it raised $315 million in Series D funding.
So far this year, the e-grocer has made executive hires with experience at top companies like Instacart, Netflix, Walmart, Tesla and Grocery Outlet.
