“Can a vertically integrated dark-store grocery model become the dominant online supermarket across Latin America by controlling fulfilment and sourcing directly from brands?”
Founded in 2017 by Miguel McAllister (previously co-founder of Domicilios.com, acquired by Delivery Hero), Merqueo was conceived from the outset as a vertically integrated online supermarket for Latin America — owning its dark-store fulfilment network rather than aggregating third-party retailers. After proving the model in Colombia, the company used its 2021 Series C to expand into Mexico and Brazil. Growth has since slowed and the company appears to have contracted to roughly 86 employees, with its embedded finance footprint limited to promotional banking and card partnerships rather than proprietary financial products.
Merqueo was founded by Miguel McAllister and is founded in 2017, headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia (incorporated as MERQUEO S.A.S.; operational HQ Colombia with presence in Mexico and Brazil).
Merqueo has raised $88M in total (latest round: Series C, 2021).
Get a read on where your own stack stands against Merqueo and the rest of its category — what they built versus bought, which providers they use, and where the gaps in your own strategy and competitive set actually are.