Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 5, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleiFood will invest $3.1 billion in Brazil by 2026, focusing on traffic and expansion. CEO Diego Barreto remains optimistic about the economy.
By Luciana Magalhaes
SAO PAULO (Reuters) -Brazilian food delivery app iFood, owned by Dutch investment group Prosus, announced on Tuesday direct investments of 17 billion reais ($3.1 billion) in the country between April 2025 and March 2026.
The spending, a 25% rise from the previous 12-month period, primarily targets boosting platform traffic, increasing repeat purchases within the app, and expanding the company's operational areas.
iFood Chief Executive Officer Diego Barreto said in an interview that the platform maintains a positive outlook on Brazil's economy despite global uncertainties from geopolitical tensions.
"This geopolitical discussion will pass," he said, adding that iFood, which plans in three-year cycles, anticipates a "consistently low unemployment rate, with the Central Bank showing a constant fight to keep inflation at a low level, and the country growing."
The app invested 10.3 billion reais in 2024 and 13.6 billion reais in 2025, considering the 12-month periods ending in March.
The new capital will also be directed towards technology and innovation segments, as well as to provide credit for clients, for in-app use, and for restaurants, the CEO said.
The platform is adding 1,100 new direct employees to its workforce, over half in technology. This expansion will push the total workforce beyond 8,600 employees, according to the executive.
The new investment figure does not include resources iFood has set aside for possible acquisitions, the CEO said, declining to comment on media reports that the platform was eyeing Alelo, a major employee benefits card provider.
Currently, iFood works with 400,000 online and offline establishments and serves 55 million customers, operating in 1,500 cities. Having reached 120 million orders per month in 2025, the platform now aims for a monthly volume of 200 million orders within three years.
($1 = 5.4969 reais)
(Reporting by Luciana Magalhaes; Editing by Stephen Coates)
iFood announced direct investments of 17 billion reais, equivalent to $3.1 billion, in Brazil.
The investments primarily target boosting platform traffic, increasing repeat purchases, and expanding operational areas.
iFood plans to add 1,100 new direct employees, with over half of them in technology.
iFood currently serves 55 million customers and works with 400,000 establishments.
The new investment figure does not include resources set aside for possible acquisitions, although the CEO declined to comment on specific targets.
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