Foodpanda faces backlash after calling Thai protest 'terrorism'

Remark proves costly in competitive food delivery market despite apologies

A boycott could deal a heavy blow to Foodpanda at a time when Thailand's third COVID-19 wave forces restaurants to serve only takeout. (File photo by Akira Kodaka)

MASAYUKI YUDA, Nikkei staff writer

July 20, 2021 14:27 JST

BANGKOK -- Asian food delivery giant Foodpanda has become the target of a boycott by pro-democracy protesters in Thailand after the subsidiary of Frankfurt-listed Delivery Hero made a remark against rallygoers' freedom of speech.

On Monday, #BanFoodpanda was listed for a second straight day as one of the most trending hashtags in Southeast Asia's second-largest economy. Over a million tweets were made using the hashtag.