Wolt, the renowned food delivery service, has announced its decision to discontinue operations in Japan. The Finnish start-up has failed to achieve its targeted growth and market penetration, leading to its swift exit. This closure follows the company's aggressive expansion into the Japanese market, implying a moment of reassessment for Wolt and reevaluation of the competitive food delivery landscape in Japan.

Food delivery services have undergone a boom in Japan, mostly driven by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market is highly competitive with local and international giants, such as Uber Eats, playing dominant roles. Moreover, Japan's rigorous business regulation and high demand for service quality might have influenced Wolt's decision to exit. This case has sparked discussions about the difficulty of foreign companies in penetrating Japanese market, especially in industries already crowded with domestic competitors.

In contrast to Japan, markets such as the US and EU are more receptive to international food delivery services, thanks to their wider user base and more standardized business regulations across regions. However, they still remain competitive with the dominance of powerful services like Grubhub in the US or Deliveroo in the UK.