Report: DoorDash Heading up Fundraise for Grocery Delivery Firm Flink

Berlin-based grocery delivery startup Flink will raise several hundred million dollars in a funding round that’s being led by food delivery giant DoorDash and puts the company’s valuation at $2.1 billion, people familiar with the situation told Bloomberg on Thursday (Sept. 23).

DoorDash is joined by other existing Flink investors in the fundraising round, which should close out in the coming weeks, according to Bloomberg’s report.

Flink promises to deliver groceries to European customers within 10 minutes in Germany, Austria, the Netherlands and France.

Representatives for Flink and DoorDash declined comment to Bloomberg on the report.

The Flink investment comes at a time when DoorDash has been looking to expand its grocery delivery service in Europe, specifically in Germany and the U.K., according to the Bloomberg report.

Last year, DoorDash partnered with Meijer, Wegmans and other chains on grocery delivery in the U.S.

Before catching DoorDash’s eye in this fundraising round, Flink has been an acquisition target for retail giant Amazon and U.S. delivery app Gopuff, the Bloomberg report says, citing people familiar with the talks.

Related: DoorDash Adds On-Demand Alcohol Service

On Monday, DoorDash announced it is adding beer, wine and spirits through the DoorDash Marketplace, which reaches more than 100 million people in 20 states, Washington, D.C., Canada and Australia.

The alcohol-on-demand offering will be available in select DoorDash markets to customers who are old enough to purchase alcohol from restaurants, grocery stores, local retailers and convenience stores. It’s the next step for DoorDash after its DoorDash Drive white-label fulfillment service that used DoorDash to deliver alcohol on demand for national and local merchants.

DoorDash’s alcohol-on-demand service features more than 30,000 selections. DoubleDash customers in some markets can bundle alcohol with their favorite meals on certain orders.

DoorDash estimates adding alcohol could increase restaurant and grocery average order values by up to 30 percent and convenience stores by more than 50 percent.

“We’re committed to providing new earning opportunities for merchants and Dashers, a safe, high-quality experience for customers, and being a responsible leader in compliant alcohol delivery,” said Caitlin Macnamara, director of alcohol strategy and operations at DoorDash, in the company announcement.