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Brazilian police carried out a search-and-seizure operation this \u200bweek against a former iFood employee suspected of downloading confidential commercial information before leaving the food-delivery \u200ccompany to join rival 99Food, according to the lead investigator.<\/strong><\/p>\n The case marks the latest development in a broader probe into alleged corporate espionage in Brazil\u2019s multibillion-dollar delivery industry, where competition has intensified following the entry of Chinese-backed platforms Keeta, owned by Meituan and 99Food, controlled by ride-hailing firm \u200bDiDi Global.<\/p>\n The police operation carried out on Wednesday targeted a former strategic sales executive who had \u200baccess to sensitive client information, such as sales volumes and customer profiles, while working \u2060at iFood, Angelo Lages, the police inspector leading the investigation in Rio de Janeiro, told Reuters.<\/p>\n \u201cThe purpose of \u200bthe search was to collect electronic devices so we can conduct forensic analysis and determine what happened to \u200bthe data,\u201d he said late on Thursday.<\/p>\n 99Food said it takes such reports seriously, does not tolerate the use of data obtained through illegal means, and that the individual targeted by the operation is not part of its workforce.<\/p>\n ALLEGED THEFT OF INFORMATION<\/strong><\/p>\n iFood, owned \u200bby Dutch investment group Prosus, controls about 80% of the market, which overall processed about $20 billion in orders \u200blast year, according to industry group Abrasel.<\/p>\n In recent months, iFood has publicly alleged attempts to obtain confidential business information through former \u200cemployees \u2060and paid consultations arranged by third-party firms, charges rivals deny.<\/p>\n iFood said this week\u2019s operation resulted from a complaint it filed involving the alleged theft of strategic and confidential commercial information by a former employee, adding that it is also pursuing legal measures to protect its data and business partners.<\/p>\n The former employee resigned from iFood \u200bin 2025 after informing the \u200bcompany he would join \u206099Food, the inspector Lages said, adding that an internal review later identified downloads of strategic files shortly before his departure.<\/p>\n The former employee told officers he no longer \u200bworked for 99Food and was currently operating as an independent consultant, Lages said. \u200bInvestigators are also \u2060seeking to determine whether other individuals or companies gained access to the information.<\/p>\n ANTITRUST DISPUTES<\/strong><\/p>\n The allegations of corporate espionage are unfolding alongside a series of ongoing competition disputes before Brazil\u2019s antitrust regulator Cade.<\/p>\n Keeta has accused 99Food of using exclusivity clauses \u2060and \u200bcontractual provisions that allegedly make it harder for restaurants to operate \u200bacross multiple platforms.<\/p>\n Separately, iFood earlier this year asked Cade to scrutinize the expansion strategies of Keeta and 99Food, alleging they rely on \u200bheavy subsidies and sustained losses to gain market share.<\/p>\n ($1 = 5.1326 reais)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n