Brazil’s food delivery arena, long dominated by iFood, is about to witness an unprecedented revolution. With an estimated market share between 80% and 90%, iFood established itself as an unbeatable national player, surpassing global competitors such as Uber Eats, which exited the country in 2022. This dominance was built through a strong business model and aggressive pricing strategies that practically wiped out competition and made the app synonymous with food delivery for millions of Brazilians. However, a once-stable and predictable scenario is about to change drastically.
What used to be a blue ocean now resembles a battlefield for global giants.
In May 2025, Meituan, the largest delivery company in China and the second largest in the world, announced its entry into Brazil with an investment of R$ 5.6 billion. Through its international brand Keeta, the company promises to fight for every inch of the market. The response came quickly: 99, controlled by Chinese giant Didi, which previously operated in food delivery with 99Food, also announced its return with a R$ 1 billion investment and started operations in August, ahead of Meituan. The rivalry between the two companies quickly reached the Brazilian courts: Keeta sued 99Food for allegedly anti-competitive practices related to exclusivity clauses between restaurants and its platform.
To complete the board, Amazon recently announced a warrants agreement allowing it to purchase up to 12% of the Colombian delivery company Rappi in the future. Warrants are similar to coupons used to raise money from investors; they give Amazon the right to buy future shares at today’s prices, potentially selling them later at a profit. This move strengthens Amazon’s strategy and reinforces existing commercial ties, potentially giving it access to vital logistics infrastructure to compete in the country.
Behind this offensive is the so-called “Chinese way” of building apps — a business model radically different from what the West is used to. Instead of fragmented apps (one for transport, another for food, another for messaging), the Chinese model is built around a closed and integrated ecosystem. The goal is to create a “super app” that brings together everything the user needs — mobility, delivery, payments, entertainment. The user is kept inside the platform for as long as possible, generating an immense volume of behavioral data.
Beyond the front-end, the back-end strategy is also unique. Radical data-centricity is the core: every click, search, and second spent in the app is analyzed by AI algorithms to predict demand, personalize offers, and optimize logistics with ultra efficiency.
In parallel, large Chinese corporations apply well-defined strategies when entering foreign markets: high friction with local players, low expectations of immediate return, and a long-term focus. They enter markets with aggressive subsidies and low prices to quickly gain share, backed by investors patient enough to wait years for returns, prioritizing scale first and monetization later.
In response to this new reality, iFood has not stood still. The company announced an investment plan of R$ 17 billion by March 2026 and recently purchased a 20% stake in CRM Bonus, with the option to acquire full control for up to R$ 10 billion. The acquisition aims to strengthen its loyalty and benefits ecosystem, preparing for the showdown.
The scenario taking shape in Brazil is complex and intense.
For consumers, competition promises short-term benefits: lower prices and generous promotions. The question is whether this will lead to a more innovative market or an even more concentrated oligopoly in the long run.
For restaurants, the fight for partnerships may improve commercial conditions — but ultimately, bargaining power may fall to whichever platform gains the highest user volume.
And for companies, the war is no longer just about menus — it’s about who can offer the most integrated and efficient experience, powered by technology and data.
Brazil’s delivery market is at a turning point, and the arrival of these global players will completely rewrite the rules. Trust Insight, as the most robust expert network in Brazil, is closely monitoring the movements of these giants.