In today’s top news from Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), eCommerce marketplace Wish has teamed up with parcel network Collect+, food delivery service Just Eat may eliminate hundreds of jobs in France due to “difficult market dynamics” and more.
EU Regulators Find New Evidence in Apple Antitrust Case
European Union antitrust regulators have identified new evidence in an investigation into Apple prompted by streaming music rival Spotify.
Regulators are hoping the new evidence will speed up the case, but that does not mean that Apple will face additional charges, per a report citing unnamed sources.
The commission began investigating Apple when Spotify complained the iPhone maker unfairly blocked its restricted competitors to its own music streaming service Apple Music on iPhones. If found guilty of violating EU antitrust rules, Apple could end up paying a fine of up to 10% of its global turnover.
Wish, Collect+ Partner on Click and Collect Initiative
Wish, an eCommerce marketplace, has teamed up with the United Kingdom’s largest retail parcel network, Collect+, to simplify and accelerate the pick up, delivery and return of packages nationwide.
A Wish spokesperson told PYMNTS via email that the deal will more than double the company’s roster of physical locations. The move marks the latest extension of the Wish Local program and comes at a time when the California-based retailer is looking to streamline and focus its operations to compete against larger rivals offering increasingly shorter delivery time frames.
More Delivery Layoffs on the Horizon as Just Eat Eyes French Restructure
Just Eat has said it may eliminate 350 jobs in France due to “difficult market dynamics” in the country, though it is exploring its options and could end up outsourcing its delivery operations to other companies.
The plan, which would involve firing permanent delivery staff in 26 cities across France, is still being negotiated with unions, according to a Bloomberg report Wednesday (July 20). Just Eat will continue to run an in-house delivery service in Paris, the report noted.
Sudanese FinTech Bloom Nets $6.5M
Sudan-based FinTech Bloom has raised $6.5 million in seed funding round which saw participation from Visa, Y Combinator, Global Founders Capital and Goodwater Capital, as well as angel investors like Dropbox co-founder Arash Ferdowsi, footballers Blaise Matuidi and Kieran Gibbs and others.
Bloom aims to help Sudanese individuals hedge against rising devaluation, the company said in a press release, and offers fee-free accounts for users to save in dollars and buy and spend in Sudanese pounds.
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