June sales figures from Britain’s top managed restaurant groups showed a 4% increase in delivery and takeaway sales compared to the same month in 2022, according to the latest Hospitality at Home Tracker by NIQ’s CGA.
This is the first time since late 2021 that the Tracker has recorded year-on-year growth after 18 months of consecutive declines following the post-COVID reopening of restaurants.
June’s data indicated that delivery sales and takeaway or click and collect sales saw a rise of 2% and 7% respectively. However, the growth in the delivery sector was primarily due to higher menu prices as order volumes dropped by 8% compared to last year. Given that the Consumer Prices Index inflation rate is close to 8%, total sales for June were lower in real terms than in June 2022.
The Tracker also revealed that deliveries and takeaways made up 14% of total sales for managed restaurant groups in June. This is significantly less than the 24% recorded in June 2022. Home food sales accounted for 90% of total sales, whereas drinks accounted for 10%, slightly up from 8% the previous year.
Karl Chessell, Business Unit Director – Hospitality Operators and Food, EMEA at CGA, said, “With the surge in delivery and takeaway sales during the COVID pandemic followed by a steady decline post-lockdowns, the balance between dining out and ordering in is finally reaching a new normal. While the steady growth of in-restaurant sales is good news for managed groups, the return to year-on-year increases in delivery and takeaway channels is also encouraging. However, the continuous decrease in order volumes indicates that consumers are monitoring their spending closely. Real-term growth is likely to remain a challenge until household expenses reduce.”