Delivery and takeaway sales growth begins to stabilise

Despite restrictions on indoor service lifting, deliveries and takeaways are set to maintain a significant share of restaurant and pub groups’ operations, the latest CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals.

It found sales in July were 206% higher than in July 2019 – less than in June (225%) and May (273%), following the return of indoor service in June and a full reopening in July. Although the lifting of all restrictions across hospitality has led to an increase in eating out, delivery has maintained its 20.5% share month-on-month while takeaway sales (defined as being collected from an outlet by the customer, including click and collect and drive-thru) declined by 1.3%.

This correlated with the significant growth in delivery sales compared to 2019, which in July was nearly three times higher than takeaways. In total, delivery and takeaways accounted for over a third of restaurant and pub groups’ sales in July.

Karl Chessell, CGA’s business unit director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “As consumers returned to eating and drinking out following restrictions lifting, growth has naturally begun to slow in delivery and takeaway sales. However, it’s clear that consumer behaviours have shifted and hospitality at home will remain an important consideration.

“Understanding the balance between out-of-home and at-home preferences will be key to shaping sales and marketing strategies for all brands, as consumers continue to embrace the delivery and takeaway trend.”

JP Then, founder of online ordering solution Slerp, said: “Hospitality at home remains key for our sector and it shows with online delivery market share remaining at 20.5%. With the multiple challenges facing the sector as it reopens, it is now needing more than ever a focused approach to delivery as an incremental business stream.

“It’s exciting to see businesses starting to hire dedicated online ordering experts and create exclusive online offerings to continue to power growth. This is especially key for marketing to consumers during the upcoming seasonal period.”

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