Ride-share company Uber announced Tuesday that it is acquiring Boston-based ezCater, one of the top office catering companies in the country, for $2.3 billion.
San Francisco-based Uber said the acquisition will expand its existing Uber Eats and Uber for Business operations, allowing restaurants it works with to increase their order size and customer-base.
“Catering is a big business, and can be a huge revenue stream for restaurants,” Dara Khosrowshahi, Uber’s chief executive, said in a statement. “With Uber’s reach, we can bring that experience to millions more customers and help restaurants win more of these valuable orders.”
ezCater, located in Boston’s financial district, was founded in 2007 as an online tech platform to help businesses and offices buy large food orders from local eateries. It has since grown into a national leader in the catering world, boasting more than 140,000 restaurant partners nationwide and valued at more than $1.6 billion, according to the announcement and past disclosures.
“We’re thrilled to be joining forces with Uber,” said Nihad Rahman, ezCater’s chief executive in a statement. “Our team is proud of what we’ve built. The leading platform for workplace catering, and a major growth channel for our restaurant partners.”
The acquisition is expected to close in the coming months, according to the announcement.
This is a developing story.
Yogev Toby can be reached at yogev.toby@globe.com.
Dining and Cooking