BUSINESS

Meituan’s Keeta Sued in Brazil as Delivery Rivalry Intensifies

Published: May. 26, 2026 3:19 p.m. GMT+8

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In response to iFood’s accusations that it unlawfully sought trade secrets from its employees, Keeta told Caixin it had not engaged any third party to contact individuals for such purposes.

Brazil’s dominant food delivery platform iFood has sued Meituan and its Keeta unit in São Paulo, accusing them of unfair competition and improperly obtaining confidential business information.

The case underscores how Brazil has become a key battleground for global delivery companies, with Didi Global Inc.’s 99Food and Meituan’s Keeta locked in lawsuits and accusations over exclusivity deals and data practices.

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iFood, with 80%+ of Brazil’s food delivery market, sued Meituan’s Keeta for unfair competition and obtaining confidential business info.
A former iFood employee admitted providing trade secrets via paid Zoom meetings; seven email addresses used @meituan.com domain.
iFood seeks 1 million reais in damages; Keeta denies allegations and says it will cooperate with authorities.

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Who’s Who

...: Brazil's iFood sued Meituan and its Keeta unit for unfair competition and obtaining trade secrets via a former employee. Keeta denies allegations, accusing iFood of similar practices. The case highlights fierce competition in Brazil's food delivery market, involving Didi's 99Food as well.

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What Happened When

2025：: A police investigation began, which led to the civil suit filed by iFood.

2025 (May)：: Meituan announced it would bring Keeta to Brazil and planned to invest $1 billion over five years to support the expansion.

2025 (October)：: Keeta officially started operations in Brazil, but the rollout faced early setbacks.

2025 (December)：: According to a Folha report, iFood sued former executives who had moved to rival 99Food, suspecting they used iFood’s confidential data.

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