Just Eat Switzerland to cut hundreds of couriers and shift to hybrid freelance model

In an interview, Just Eat Switzerland CEO Lukas Streich confirmed that the firm will terminate several hundred of its roughly 700 salaried couriers as it restructures its delivery network. The new strategy combines self-employed couriers with external fleet partners, aligning the Swiss operation with Uber Eats' gig-based model to meet growing demand for round-the-clock service. Streich emphasized that the move is driven by changing customer expectations rather than pure cost savings, and a social plan will be presented after a two-week consultation period.

Regional implementation will differ: in the Ticino area the company will work mainly with fleet partner On Duty, while in cities such as Bern, Basel, Winterthur and Zürich more freelancers will be used, and western Switzerland will retain employees because of a court decision. The shift has sparked criticism over lower earnings and loss of benefits for couriers, but the firm argues that flexible work can offer higher income potential during peak demand. Additional services, including deliveries for Migros, pharmacies and flower shops, are part of the broader on-demand expansion.