Jitse Groen
Jitse Groen | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 2, 1978 Delft, Netherlands |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, CEO |
| Known for | Founder of Takeaway.com; CEO of Just Eat Takeaway.com |
Jitse Groen (born 2 June 1978) is a prominent Dutch entrepreneur and the creator of Takeaway.com, a major platform for food delivery services. He currently holds the position of chief executive officer at Just Eat Takeaway.com.
Early life
Groen was born in Delft and grew up in Kolhorn and 't Veld. His father worked as an automation engineer, while his mother was a teacher. He enrolled in business information technology studies at the University of Twente but did not complete his academic program.
Career
At the age of 21, while still attending university, Groen launched Takeaway.com (initially known as Thuisbezorgd.nl) in 2000. The concept originated from his personal challenge in locating local takeaway delivery options near his residence in North Holland. He discontinued his university education in 2003 as the business began to expand rapidly. By 2012, Groen had raised €13 million to support Takeaway.com's international growth. The company went public on Euronext Amsterdam in 2016, facilitating further expansion into European markets, including Germany.
In 2018, Groen acquired key German rivals of Takeaway.com from Delivery Hero. The 2020 merger with the UK-based Just Eat resulted in Groen becoming CEO of the merged organization, where he owns an 11.3% stake, reduced from his previous 35% before the merger. His leadership earned recognition from Quote magazine, which named him the wealthiest self-made Dutch entrepreneur under 40 in 2017. By 2018, the value of his shares in Takeaway.com had made him a billionaire.
Groen has driven strategic changes away from gig economy practices; in 2020, he announced that Just Eat would offer minimum wage, sick leave, and holiday pay to all workers instead of treating them as gig workers. Nevertheless, in 2023, the company reverted to a model relying entirely on self-employed gig couriers in the UK, impacting around 1,870 delivery personnel.
In public discussions, Groen has defended his business strategies against competitors such as Uber Eats, highlighting compliance with tax regulations and provision of worker benefits. His net worth was estimated at US$1.2 billion as of October 2021 but fell to US$350 million by June 2022 due to changing market dynamics.
Personal life
Groen lives in the Netherlands. In 2017, he acquired a nine-bedroom residence in Noordwijk with an asking price of €10.25 million. He is an avid aviator and holds a pilot's licence. Little information about his private life is publicly disclosed.