Key facts
- Brazilian police seized electronic devices from a former iFood executive on Wednesday.
- The executive is suspected of downloading confidential commercial information before leaving iFood to join rival 99Food.
- The investigation is part of a broader probe into alleged corporate espionage in Brazil's food delivery industry.
- iFood, owned by Prosus, controls about 80% of the Brazilian food delivery market.
- The targeted individual told officers he no longer worked for 99Food and was operating as an independent consultant.
Brazilian police conducted a search-and-seizure operation this week against a former iFood employee suspected of downloading confidential commercial information before joining rival 99Food, according to the lead investigator. The case is part of a broader probe into alleged corporate espionage in Brazil's multibillion-dollar delivery industry, where competition has intensified with the entry of Chinese-backed platforms Keeta and 99Food.
The operation targeted a former strategic sales executive who had access to sensitive client information while at iFood, said police inspector Angelo Lages. "The purpose of the search was to collect electronic devices so we can conduct forensic analysis and determine what happened to the data," he said.
99Food stated it takes such reports seriously, does not tolerate the use of data obtained through illegal means, and that the individual targeted is not part of its workforce. iFood, owned by Dutch investment group Prosus, controls about 80% of the market, which processed about 20 billion reais in orders last year. iFood has publicly alleged attempts to obtain confidential business information through former employees and paid consultations arranged by third-party firms.
The former employee resigned from iFood in 2025 after informing the company he would join 99Food, Lages said, adding that an internal review later identified downloads of strategic files shortly before his departure. The former employee told officers he no longer worked for 99Food and was currently operating as an independent consultant. Investigators are also seeking to determine whether other individuals or companies gained access to the information.
The allegations of corporate espionage are unfolding alongside ongoing competition disputes before Brazil's antitrust regulator Cade. Keeta has accused 99Food of using exclusivity clauses, and iFood asked Cade to scrutinize the expansion strategies of Keeta and 99Food, alleging they rely on heavy subsidies and sustained losses.