Uber Technologies said they reached a deal to buy alcohol-delivery service Drizly for $1.1 billion in stock and cash. The company’s ambition is to provide a wider range of items to consumers’ doorsteps. This deal is the biggest since July when Uber bought Postmates, a food delivering app.
The deal could further accelerate the growth of online alcohol sales, according to the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America, a trade group representing more than 350 distributors. USA is particularly ripe for home delivery of alcohol, as most booze is purchased at supermarkets rather than at bars or restaurants.
Drizly app handles alcohol sales and deliver orders. It has equipped delivery workers with phones carrying software that can scan an identity document.
Uber said Drizly was compliant with local regulations in 1,400 U.S. cities. The company said it would eventually integrate Drizly’s marketplace into the Uber Eats app.