• Uber files lawsuit claiming DoorDash forces restaurants into exclusive delivery partnerships.
  • DoorDash allegedly controls 90% of enterprise restaurant first-party deliveries.
  • Uber seeks a jury trial, citing millions in lost revenue from alleged anticompetitive practices.

Ride-share and delivery company Uber has filed a lawsuit against DoorDash in California's Superior Court, alleging its competitor employs anticompetitive tactics to maintain control over the food delivery market.

The lawsuit, filed Friday, accuses DoorDash of pressuring restaurants into exclusive delivery partnerships through threats and intimidation.

According to the lawsuit, DoorDash, which holds the largest share of the U.S. food delivery market, allegedly threatens restaurants with substantial penalties or degraded app visibility if they partner with competitors.

Uber claims these practices particularly affect first-party delivery services, where orders are placed directly through restaurants' websites.

The conflict centers on both companies' white-label delivery services - Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive on-Demand - launched in 2020.

Uber alleges that DoorDash, which manages first-party deliveries for over 90% of major enterprise restaurants in America, achieved this market position through anti-competitive practices.

Sarfraz Maredia, Uber's head of America's delivery, stated that multiple restaurants have reported feeling coerced by DoorDash's tactics.

One unnamed major restaurant chain allegedly abandoned plans to use Uber Direct after DoorDash threatened to increase their third-party delivery rates.

DoorDash has dismissed the allegations, with a spokesperson stating, "Uber's case has no merit.

Their claims are unfounded and based on their inability to offer merchants, consumers, or couriers a quality alternative."

Uber, seeking a jury trial, claims these practices have cost them millions in revenue and hindered Uber Direct's growth.

The lawsuit's outcome could significantly impact the competitive landscape of the food delivery industry.

Edited By Annette George