Glovo is laying off 750 riders in Spain and pulling out of 63 towns, primarily in Andalucia. The Barcelona-based delivery platform is retreating from markets where unit economics never worked, concentrating resources on profitable urban corridors.
The gig economy is facing a reckoning in 2026. After years of growth-at-all-costs expansion fueled by venture capital, platforms are being forced to prove they can actually make money. Glovo's exit from dozens of smaller towns signals that last-mile delivery in low-density areas was never sustainable without subsidization.
For the 750 riders affected, this is a particularly difficult situation. Gig workers typically lack the severance packages and transition support that corporate employees receive. The cuts also highlight the regulatory gap in Spain, where gig worker classification has been a contentious political issue.