Uber looks to recruit Japan's elderly for food delivery

Uber looks to recruit Japan's elderly for food delivery

FILE PHOTO: Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi of ride-hailing app Uber pictured on stage during an event in New York City, New York, U.S., September 5, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

Uber Technologies Inc.’s strategy for Japan, where ride-sharing is banned, is as unique as the country itself — think grandma in running shoes delivering ramen noodles.

Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi was in the country last week to stress the importance of the market, where the San Francisco-based company has built a growing food-delivery business but kept rides limited to black-car hires and taxi dispatches. The archipelago is also home to Uber’s biggest shareholder, SoftBank Group Corp., and where he’s planning to boost staff in the coming year.

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