Deliveries rise while takeaways dip in September

A slump in takeaway sales offset sharp growth in deliveries to leave Britain's top restaurant groups with like-for-like sales in September, CGA by NIQ's latest Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals. 

Combined deliveries and takeaways were just 0.4% ahead of September 2024 on a comparative basis. It has been a challenging year, with like-for-like trading running behind the rate of inflation in every month so far, mirroring flat or negative figures for restaurants' dine-in sales throughout 2025. 

September's delivery sales were 4.1% ahead on a like-for-like basis. In sharp contrast, takeaway and click-and-collect sales dropped 8.7%, reflecting consumers' steady migration from food pick-ups to straight door-to-door ordering platforms. 

However, managed groups continue to drive overall sales by extending their at-home services. Total growth – including from newly-opened restaurants, or where deliveries and takeaways have just been introduced – was 8.7% ahead year-on-year. 

Takeaways and click-and-collect orders accounted for 5.1 pence in every pound spent with restaurants in September, while deliveries attracted 13.1 pence. This figure has increased by more than two percent in just two years. 

'An encouraging sign'

Karl Chessell, director of hospitality operators and food at CGA by NIQ, comments: "The total increase in restaurants' at-home sales is an encouraging sign of solid demand for deliveries and takeaways. But it's clear that growth is being largely driven by new delivery provision and higher menu prices rather than order frequency, and inflation and third-party delivery fees are both sapping operators' profit margins.

"They will be hoping for a Christmas bounce and some respite on costs in the government's forthcoming Budget, but the environment for both eat-in and at-home trading is going to remain difficult for some time to come."

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