The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (Cade) denied a request filed by Keeta regarding the exclusivity clauses imposed by 99Food on restaurants. These clauses aimed to prohibit establishments from entering into commercial agreements with Keeta itself or with Rappi.
The decision, released on Wednesday, September 3rd, was made by the interim president of the Cade Administrative Tribunal and case rapporteur, Diogo Thompson de Andrade, who concluded that there was not sufficient certainty evidence to justify immediate intervention.
Despite the denial of the request, the regulatory body acknowledged that the terms of the contracts in question raise competition concerns. Therefore, the administrative inquiry continues, maintaining the investigation into the actions of the two companies and their effects on the food delivery sector.
In August 2025, Keeta formally filed a complaint against 99Food for presenting anti-competitive conduct, requesting Cade to take precautionary measures to block what the company calls 'exclusionary clauses.' Keeta argues that 99Food inserts provisions that prevent restaurants from partnering with Keeta and Rappi. Furthermore, both companies were named in the documents, unlike iFood, which is considered the market leader.
For Keeta, this practice constitutes an attempt to consolidate a duopoly in the market. In turn, 99Food refuted these accusations and accused Keeta of allegedly implementing restrictive clauses in its own contracts with establishments.
According to analysis by Valor Econômico, this setback could negatively impact Keeta's commercial expansion. The company has not yet reached Rio de Janeiro and failed to meet its goal of operating in 100 cities by mid-2026, currently having only 11 municipalities.
In a statement, 99 Food expressed calm regarding the refusal of the preventive measure and also the continuation of the investigation. The company also praised the inclusion of other companies in the analysis, as it believes this allows for 'building a more complete portrait of how the delivery market operates today as a whole.'
Keeta, however, expressed its dissatisfaction, stating that 'the food delivery segment remains closed and dysfunctional.' The company argues that this situation harms platforms, restaurants, delivery drivers, and consumers. The company regrets that 'every day without a definitive decision has a concrete and daily cost for the entire ecosystem.'