Restaurants enjoy ‘strong’ delivery sales in August

Restaurant group ended the summer with “strong” delivery sales, as like-for-like sales grew by 7.3% in August, according to CGA by NIQ. 

However, the positive performance was driven by increased prices, as the volume of takeaway orders continued a downward trajectory. 

Year-on-year increases in takeaways have been “comfortably” above the rate of inflation throughout 2024, only falling below 7% once since the start of the year. 

August completes a buoyant summer for restaurants’ at-home orders, following CGA by NIQ’s figures of 17.1% and 9.4% recorded in June and July respectively.

CGA’s exclusive monitor of sales also revealed a 0.1% rise in takeaway and click-and-collect sales in August, marking the first year-on-year growth for 12 months following consumers’ steady movement away from pick-up orders to deliveries. 

Combined deliveries, takeaways and click-and-collect sales in August were 4.6% ahead of the same month in 2023, spelling the 15th month of like-for-like growth in a row. They attracted just over 14 pence in every pound spent with restaurants last month, against 86 pence for eat-in visits.

Karl Chessell, director at CGA by NIQ, said: “A generally cool and wet summer has been disappointing for consumers and hospitality alike, but with many people staying inside it’s worked to the advantage of restaurants’ deliveries. 

“A buoyant August shows the ongoing appeal of ordering platforms, and it’s encouraging to see some stability in takeaways after a long-term slowdown. Less positively, it may also indicate that some consumers are opting to save money by eating restaurant food at home rather than going out.” 

He added: “Growing eat-in sales without compromising deliveries will be a key challenge for restaurants as we enter Autumn.”