Grab buys Singaporean restaurant booking platform Chope, Money News

SINGAPORE — Grab, Southeast Asia’s largest ride-hailing and food delivery company, has acquired Singaporean dinner reservation platform Chope for an undisclosed sum, the companies confirmed on Tuesday (July 23).

“We believe that adding Chope’s products and services will bring greater synergies to our merchant partners, especially as they leverage online-to-offline opportunities,” a Grab spokesperson said in a statement.

The Business Times was the first to report on the takeover on Monday, citing an internal email seen by the publication.

Grab said in the statement that it is focused on creating equal opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses, which make up the majority of merchants on the platform and lack the resources of larger brands.

Arrif Ziaudeen, founder of Chope, said in a statement that the company is looking for a partner that can help the company capture new opportunities for sustainable growth in a challenging and competitive market.

“We evaluated potential buyers and found Grab to be the best fit. Grab is a company with a mission that aligns with ours: connecting restaurants with guests,” he added.

Founded in 2011, Chope is available in seven cities: Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Phuket, Shanghai, Bali and Jakarta. According to Chope’s websites, there are over 13,000 restaurants listed on the platform.

((nid:693283))