Food delivery apps probed for regulatory breaches

The Department of Business Development (DBD) is investigating the operations of three food delivery applications that serve Chinese customers to determine whether they comply with Thai laws.

Concerns have emerged on social media regarding the operations of Feixiang, Gokoo and E-Gets, which reportedly receive orders exclusively from Chinese communities in Thailand.

There are allegations that these platforms may be linked to unauthorised Chinese restaurants, the employment of foreign riders, and violations of other Thai regulations.

Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director-general of the DBD, said an initial review found that all application providers have established companies in Thailand, with one classified as a foreign company.

He said the department is investigating whether the foreign company has obtained the permits required to operate its application services. For the other two companies, which have Thai majority shareholders, the DBD will scrutinise the details of investment capital contributed by Thai stakeholders. He did not disclose the timeline of the investigation.

The Fly Holding (Thailand), the operator of the Feixiang application, was registered on Sept 1, 2021 with registered capital of 25 million baht and a 51% Thai ownership stake. It recorded total revenue of around 3.11 million baht in 2024, with a loss of over 11.2 million baht, according to Creden Data, a business performance analytics platform provider.

Gokooonline Co Ltd was registered on Sept 21, 2020. It operates as an e-commerce marketplace, acting as a central platform for buying and selling goods or services via electronic media and the internet.

The legal entity is classified as 80% Thai-owned. It has consistently submitted financial statements for the years 2020–2024 and is registered for value-added tax (VAT) with one branch.

The company posted revenue of 231 million baht in 2024, up 74% year-on-year, and reported its first profit of 31.4 million baht, reversing a 2023 loss of 31.9 million baht.

It increased its registered capital twice in 2023. It was raised to 29 million baht on Feb 1, 2023, and then to 30 million baht on July 21, 2023, according to Creden Data.

E-Gets Technology (Thailand) Co Ltd is an internet retail firm backed by majority Cambodian ownership, according to Creden Data.

The company was registered on Aug 3, 2023, with starting capital of 2 million baht, which was later increased to 20 million baht on Feb 21, 2024.

E-Gets generated 6.14 million baht in total revenue in 2024 and recorded a loss of around 30.7 million baht in the same year.