A motion to certify a class action has been filed this week in the Haifa District Court against Wolt Enterprises Israel Ltd. The lawsuit, filed by Aharon Amarbi through attorneys Elran Shapira Bar-Or and Michael Adler, alleges the sale of government-controlled food products at prices exceeding the statutory maximum. According to the motion, the damage to consumers is estimated at approximately 2.5 million NIS. The plaintiff provided examples, such as 3% Tnuva milk sold for 17.1 NIS against a controlled price of 14.7 NIS, and a 30-egg carton sold at a grocery store in the Sharon area for 60 NIS, compared to a controlled price of about 35.6 NIS.
The applicant's central claim is that Wolt acts as more than a technological intermediary between customers and businesses, asserting it is substantively involved in the sales process. He argues this involvement is evidenced by the issuance of invoices to customers, provision of customer service, and the collection of commission fees from businesses, which reportedly can reach up to 30%. To support the argument that the company is aware of its legal obligations, the motion notes that 'Wolt Market'—a store chain owned by the company—strictly adheres to maximum pricing. The applicant demands that the court order the company to monitor prices of controlled products on the platform and compensate consumers allegedly overcharged.
In response, Wolt stated the lawsuit is frivolous. The company claims that the businesses operating on the application are solely responsible for determining product variety and prices. Wolt emphasized that it operates in accordance with the law and requested the dismissal of the claim. This is a preliminary legal proceeding that has not yet been heard by the court; thus, the allegations have not been adjudicated. For businesses and consumers, the issue raises significant questions regarding the legal liability of delivery platforms in transactions where price discrepancies exist between the seller and the platform, as well as the boundary between technological mediation and active involvement in the final consumer price. The issue of price control in digital supply chains is expected to continue engaging courts as the use of food and essential goods delivery applications grows.