Uber to Close Drizly Alcohol Delivery App

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Uber is bidding farewell to its alcohol delivery app, Drizly, which it acquired for a substantial $1.1 billion investment three years ago. The platform is set to officially conclude its operations at the end of March, allowing customers to place orders until then, as communicated by Drizly in a recent post on social media. "We'll be sure to let you know when it's last call," Drizly humorously remarked.

Pierre Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber's Senior Vice President of Delivery, explained the decision to close down Drizly's business, stating that Uber wants to sharpen its focus on the core Uber Eats strategy. This strategy aims to enable consumers to conveniently access a wide range of items, from food and groceries to alcohol, all through a single, unified app.

While Axios first reported Uber's decision to shutter Drizly, Uber informed The Associated Press that it intends to learn from Drizly's experience in the industry as it continues to expand its "BevAlc" offerings. Currently available in 35 U.S. states and 25 countries worldwide, Uber aims to leverage the knowledge gained from Drizly's operations to enhance its own beverage delivery services. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the majority of Drizly's existing customers also have Uber accounts, creating potential synergies for the ridesharing and delivery giant.

Read more about this at ABC News >

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT FOR MY INDUSTRY?

It's a sign of the times in the on-demand delivery world. Knowing what's up in the market and what people want is the key to staying in the game for logistics companies. Drizly was all about getting your booze delivered, but it was cozy with Uber Eats too. That shows how important it is for delivery services to mix things up and offer more than one service. People are all about convenience… and they want it all.

The Drizly closure might not rock the boat in trucking and logistics, but it's like a crystal ball for relevant market trends, competition, mixing services, and keeping your data safe.

🔥 OUR HOT TAKE?

This is a classic case of "out with the old, in with the new." Uber seems to be going all-in on Uber Eats, which makes sense from a business perspective. But for fans of Drizly, it's like losing your favorite neighborhood bar. Sure, we understand the need to streamline and focus on core strategies, but there's something about the simplicity of tapping an app for your favorite bottle of wine or craft beer. It was revolutionary, especially during those cozy nights in when you had no desire to leave your couch.

But Uber promises to learn from Drizly's legacy. So maybe… just maybe… we'll see some of that convenience and selection trickle into Uber Eats. Until then, we'll raise a glass to Drizly and the good times it delivered, pun intended.