HelloFresh Shares Slide as Meal-Kit Giant Exits Italy

Strategic Realignment and Financial Outlook

The decision to pull out of Italy stems from a lack of "sustainable profitability" and growth potential, according to the Berlin-based company. While the exit from Italy is confirmed, HelloFresh noted that its strategy for Spain remains in flux, though it has already entered talks regarding workforce reductions. The move follows a difficult year where shares have shed roughly 19% of their value, hitting 4.99 euros in early European trading.

The company’s fiscal health reflects a tightening market for subscription food services. For the year ending Dec. 31, HelloFresh reported the following results:

• Net revenue of 6.76 billion euros, a 12% decline on a reported basis.
• Adjusted EBITDA of 423 million euros, meeting market expectations.
• Sequential improvement in the core meal-kit category.

While the meal-kit segment showed signs of recovery, the ready-to-eat category lagged behind internal expectations. Management further attributed a dip in January 2026 performance to extreme weather across Europe and the U.S., which disrupted logistics and weighed on margins. Despite these regional setbacks, the adjusted EBITDA figure marked an increase from the 399.4 million euros reported in 2024, as the company pivots toward higher-margin markets.