Delicious Deliveries: British Restaurants See Sweet Growth in 2024
What’s Gone Inside the Food Industry?
According to the latest Hospitality at Home Tracker from CGA by NIQ, last month’s delivery sales hit a new high in year‑on‑year growth.
- Deliveries in May were 11.3% higher than May 2023 on a like‑for‑like basis.
- Takeaway and click‑and‑collect sales dipped by 2.0% as people lean more towards the convenience of delivery platforms.
- Combined delivery and takeaway sales were 6.2% ahead, up from April’s 4.5%.
- The trend has run for 12 straight months of positive growth at home.
- May’s growth comfortably outpaced Britain’s inflation rate.
More Than Just a Bunch of Food
In May, the composition of at‑home orders was pretty neat:
- Deliveries accounted for just under 11 pence per pound spent with restaurants.
- Takeaways made up only four pence.
- Food took a whopping 91.1% of all at‑home orders.
- Drinks were a modest 8.9% of the mix.
Industry Voices Behind the Numbers
Karl Chessell, CGA’s business unit director for hospitality operators and food in EMEA, shared his thoughts:
“Twelve months of year‑on‑year growth in a row marks an excellent recovery for restaurants’ at‑home sales after the post‑COVID drop in orders.”
“While May’s positive trading was boosted by the mixed weather that caused some consumers to stay at home, it could also be a sign that people are becoming freer with their spending.”
“The easing of inflation and interest in the Euro 2024 football tournament should help to sustain momentum into the summer, and we can be cautiously optimistic for solid growth in both deliveries and eat‑in sales over the rest of the year.”
What’s Next?
With skies looking a bit gloomy in many corners of Britain, we’re seeing a trend where people prefer the comfort of home over dining out. While the numbers are promising, the market remains dynamic—expect more tweaks as consumer preferences shift and incentives like lower inflation and football excitement keep the appetite alive.
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