Analysis

September 25, 2023

The U-turn on international expansion — Motatos the latest startup pulling out of a foreign market

One year after launching in the UK, discount grocery store Motatos is pulling out — and it’s not alone in retreating from international markets


Mimi Billing

4 min read

Motatos leaves the UK market one year following the launch. Photo :Magnus Sandberg

A few years ago, rapid international expansion was all the rage — and investors lapped up startups with an ever-growing footprint. But today companies are increasingly U-turning on foreign markets as investors don’t want to fork out for costly expansions.

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Photo of Karl Andersson, founder of Motatos with the CEO Peter Beckius.
Motatos founder Karl Andersson (left) and CEO Peter Beckius. Photo: Magnus Sandberg
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Mimi Billing

Mimi Billing is Sifted's Europe editor, based in Stockholm. She covers the Nordics and can be found on X and LinkedIn

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