January sees delivery and takeaway sales slump

January’s delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s top managed restaurant groups were 2% down on January 2022, according to CGA by NielsenIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker.

It continues a plateauing of the dine-at-home market that has now seen year-on-year sales drop for 15 months in a row. January’s delivery volumes fell by 12% as some consumers reduced the frequency of their orders, but spent more when they did so.

Nevertheless, delivery and takeaway sales remain substantially ahead of pre-Covid-19 levels, after lockdowns increased the prevalence of the consumer habit. Combined, they accounted for 17 pence in every pound spent with managed restaurant groups in January 2023.

Karl Chessell, director of hospitality operators and food, EMEA, at CGA, comments: "The levelling out of delivery and takeaway sales since late 2021 has been a double-edged sword for restaurant operators. Positively, it shows that many consumers have returned to their pre-Covid-19 habits, replacing deliveries with the special experiences that only eating out can provide. But it also indicates that other consumers are reining in their spending as household bills continue to soar. With business costs so high as well, and third-party delivery platforms taking a large slice of sales, protecting already thin profit margins will be a challenge throughout 2023."

The CGA Hospitality at Home Tracker is the leading source of data and insight for the delivery and takeaway market. It provides monthly reports on the value and volume of sales, with year-on-year comparisons and splits between food and drink revenue. It offers a benchmark by which brands can measure their performance, and participants receive detailed data in return for their contributions.

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