Delivery sales fall 1% in January amid post-Xmas spending squeeze
CGA by NIQ maintains that January’s delivery trends are in line with wider seasonal spending patterns
Restaurants’ delivery sales have slipped by 1% year-on-year in January 2025 from the same month in the year prior as consumers reined in their spending after Christmas, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker.
This fall is the tracker’s first negative number since June 2023, and well short of the UK’s general monthly rate of inflation of 3%, as measured by the Consumer Price Index.
By contrast, the tracker shows modest growth of 2.1% in revenues from takeaway and click-and-collect orders. These sales have now been in a year-on-year growth for six months in a row, which spells a turnaround from 11 consecutive months of decline.
CGA by NIQ maintains that January’s delivery trends are in line with wider seasonal spending patterns.
Based on a separate cohort of managed groups, the tracker recorded a 1.3% fall in sales year-on-year. This was described as an “abrupt” reversal of 3.2% growth in December, when consumers headed out to restaurants, pubs and bars to celebrate the holidays rather than ordering in.
As a result, combined delivery and takeaway sales were 0.6% behind January 2024. Meanwhile, total sales – including from new sites opened in the last 12 months – rose 6.6%.
Karl Chessell, director at CGA by NIQ, said: “After some consumers splurged on meals and drinks over Christmas, it is little surprise to see a leveling-off in January. Nevertheless, it is a disappointing start to what will be another challenging year for restaurants, especially with key costs like labour and energy set to rise.
“More positively, the premium paid for the convenience of deliveries may now be tilting people towards takeaways and click and collect orders. With so many consumers still feeling the pinch on disposable incomes, we can expect to see this trend continue through 2025.”
