Delivery and takeaway sales rise for eighth consecutive month
January’s growth was bolstered by deliveries and increased prices, rather than takeaways and order volumes
Managed restaurant groups saw delivery and takeaway sales remain 4% ahead of January 2023 last month, spelling the eighth consecutive month of like-for-like growth, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest data.
While this is an improvement on a 1% rise in December 2023, growth has slowed in recent months and year-on-year increases have not exceeded 4% – the current rate of inflation since September.
CGA by NIQ’s tracker also revealed that January’s growth was bolstered by deliveries and increased prices, rather than takeaways and order volumes. Deliveries across all groups were 7% ahead of January last year, while takeaway and click-and-collect revenues were down 5%. Combined order numbers have fallen by 2% year-on-year.
Currently, deliveries account for 11% of every pound spent with restaurant groups and takeaways attract 4p in the pound, while eat-in sales are worth 85p.
Karl Chessell, director at CGA by NIQ, said: “While 4% growth is not spectacular, eight months of year-on-year increases do indicate welcome stability in the delivery and takeaway sector. Achieving decent profits on these sales, especially via third-party platforms, remains challenging, but consistency in the balance of at-home and eat-in trading is at least helping groups to plan operations with more confidence.
“They will be hoping that recent disruption to deliveries from staff strikes at leading providers will not compromise orders for long.”
