Delivery Hero subsidiary InstaShop gets acquired by Talabat, broadening the latter's scope in the grocery market.
In a significant move, Talabat, the Middle East's leading food delivery platform, has announced the acquisition of InstaShop, a popular online grocery delivery marketplace. The deal, worth $32 million, makes InstaShop a wholly-owned subsidiary of Talabat.
Founded in Dubai in 2015 by John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki, InstaShop has grown to become a convenient app-based platform serving the UAE market. It specialises in grocery delivery, offering a wide range of fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and ready-to-eat items.
The acquisition by Talabat, which is also owned by Delivery Hero, marks a new chapter in InstaShop's growth story. With this integration, InstaShop's reach and services have expanded under these larger brands, capitalising on Talabat's established logistics and market infrastructure.
Key Milestones in InstaShop's Journey
- 2015: InstaShop was founded in Dubai by John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki, targeting grocery delivery with a growing network.
- Acquisition by Delivery Hero: Although the exact date is not specified, Delivery Hero's acquisition integrated InstaShop into a global delivery ecosystem.
- Integration with Talabat: Talabat, also owned by Delivery Hero, further scaled InstaShop’s presence across the Middle East.
InstaShop's Growth under Delivery Hero and Talabat
This timeline highlights the key growth phases that InstaShop has experienced under Delivery Hero and Talabat. The integration has helped InstaShop to broaden its customer base and product offerings.
In 2024, InstaShop achieved a GMV of $631 million, marking a 16% increase from the previous year. This growth contributes to approximately 8% of Talabat's total GMV for 2024. As a result, the pro forma GMV for Talabat's Grocery and Retail vertical now surpasses $2.5 billion for 2024.
Moreover, Talabat has maintained positive and improving EBITDA margins with InstaShop. This acquisition significantly strengthens Talabat's position in the grocery and retail delivery segment.
InstaShop will continue to operate as an independent brand within Talabat's Grocery and Retail vertical. As a leading online grocery delivery marketplace operating in the UAE and Egypt, InstaShop is poised to continue its growth under Talabat's umbrella.
References:
- InstaShop founding in 2015, Dubai — Apptunix (2025-07-08) [1]
- Ownership transition through Delivery Hero into Talabat (general industry knowledge due to lack of precise dates in provided results)
- InstaShop will continue to operate as an independent brand within Talabat's Grocery and Retail vertical.
- InstaShop was acquired by Delivery Hero for over $360 million in August 2020.
- The acquisition significantly strengthens Talabat's position in the grocery and retail delivery segment.
- InstaShop is a leading online grocery delivery marketplace operating in the UAE and Egypt.
In this integration under Talabat, founded by Delivery Hero, InstaShop has capitalized on the established logistics and market infrastructure, thereby expanding its reach and services in the business realm, particularly in the technology-driven grocery delivery segment. As a result, InstaShop's growth strategy in the Middle East's online grocery market has been significantly strengthened.
