SAN FRANCISCO, California: Uber said it will end food deliveries in Italy and exit Israel, as it has not gained significant market share in either country.

A company spokesperson said that the moves were “in line with our efforts to focus on markets where we have opportunities for sustainable growth.”

“Uber will invest only in markets where it can be the largest or second largest player,” said CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, as quoted by Reuters.

In Italy, Uber trails Just Eat and Glovo in food deliveries, while in Israel it is behind Gett Taxi and Yango in offering taxi and private hire services.

Some 50 Uber employees and thousands of non-employee couriers and restaurants would be affected in Italy, but it will continue to expand its car service there, where it works with dispatcher IT taxi, said the company, which relies on self-employed contractors.

Uber’s largest markets in Europe are France, Spain, and Germany. It is also very big in the UK.

“There is strong adoption by taxi drivers in Europe, who use the Uber app to supplement their curb-side ride-hailing business,” the company said.