Uber announced that it’s shutting down Drizly some three years after it acquired the alcohol delivery service for $1.1 billion.
The digital alcohol marketplace — both the business and the brand, including its red bear logo — will cease to exist at the end of March.
Drizly confirmed the news with a social media post.
“The dinosaurs. Malt liquor with caffeine in it. Drizly. Turns out, it’s true what they say… all good things must come to an end,” it reads.
Founded in 2001, Drizly grew into the largest online liquor store in North America, thanks primarily to a mobile order and delivery boom sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. As consumers sought to avoid public places amid the global health crisis, major meal delivery services spiked 162% compared to the previous year, according to Bloomberg Second Measure.
Uber purchased Drizly in a cash-and-stock deal back in 2021. After the acquisition, the Boston-based subsidiary continued to operate as a standalone app, with its marketplace also integrated into the Uber Eats platform.
Drizly’s shuttering is part of a bigger bid to streamline and “focus on our core Uber Eats strategy of helping consumers get almost anything — from food to groceries to alcohol — all on a single app,” Pierre Dimitri Gore-Coty, Uber’s SVP of delivery said.
“It’s okay to move on. In fact, we encourage it,” Drizly told customers. “You’ll probably feel at home at Uber Eats as the drink selection you know and love is available there.”
They added that, as a parting gift, “some exclusive perks are headed your way,” including promos for Uber Eats.
In addition to Drizly and Uber Eats, platforms like delivery.com and Minibar also provide alcohol delivery services.
