Just Eat’s £50M Investment Shakes the Stock Market
In a move that could make your stomach rumble, Just Eat announced it’s putting an extra £50 million into its 2018 plans to keep pace with the fast‑paced world of food delivery. The funds will largely go toward expanding their delivery service across the UK, Australia, and Canada.
What the numbers really say
- Revenue jump: 2017 saw a 45 % surge as the app pushed further abroad and expanded domestically.
- Crazy acquisition: Just Eat scooped up Hungryhouse for a cool £200 million, adding a new set of restaurants to its roster.
- Share slump: Despite the rosy figures, shares dropped over 14 % following the announcement.
- Competitive pressure: The market has been feeling pressure from rivals like Deliveroo and Uber Eats.
CEO Highlight
Peter Plumb, the fearless chief executive, called 2017 a record year. He bragged that the platform now houses 82,000 restaurants worldwide, giving customers a broader menu of choices.
Looking Ahead
For 2018, the company projects core earnings between £165 million and £185 million. They’re betting this fresh injection of capital will help smooth out the bumps from ever‑evolving competitors.
So, while investors could have been a bit surprised by the drop, Just Eat’s folks are clearly hungry for success. As the app says, “We expect these investments to improve overall group performance over the medium‑to‑long term, helping us to capture clear opportunities and insulate the business from fast‑moving and well‑capitalised competitors.” If there’s any drama in the world of online food, this shout‑out is a clear drum roll for the coming years.
