British Restaurant Chains Serve Up a 6% Sales Surge in September
According to the CGI by NIQ’s Hospitality at Home Tracker, the top UK restaurant groups delivered a 6.0% jump in delivery and takeaway sales in September 2024—slightly stronger than the 4.6% boost seen in August. Not only that, but year‑on‑year figures have comfortably sneaked past inflation every month so far this year.
Home‑Delivered Hooray
- Deliveries alone outpaced last year’s September numbers by a whopping 8.5%.
- Last month, delivery orders made up nearly 12% of a restaurant’s total sales.
- Takeaway and click‑and‑collect sales grew by a modest 0.7%, marking the second straight month of fractional gains after a long slump.
- Deliveries now account for 57% of all at‑home orders, with the remaining 43% split between takeaways and click‑and‑collects.
Why the Weather Won’t Chill the Flow
“Growth in deliveries and takeaways has outshined in‑venue sales for most of 2024,” says Karl Chessell, director of hospitality operators and food at GCA by NIQ for EMEA. “In September, the drizzle left many folks opting for the comfort of a table at home rather than venturing out.”
Chessell added that the “modest rebound in pick‑up orders is a bright sign of stability,” though the rise comes more from price hikes than added volume. With consumers keeping a tight purse‑string, sustained real‑terms growth in these channels will still be a tough climb.
Quick Takeaway
Bottom line: Deliveries keep winning, but the real win hinges on keeping costs manageable while fans of take‑away don’t want to upgrade their menu without a good reason.
