This is an eighth consecutive month of like-for-like growth and an improvement on 1% growth in December 2023. However, growth has slowed in recent months, and year-on-year increases have not exceeded 4% — the current rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Prices Index — since September.
The Tracker reveals January’s growth was powered by deliveries and increased prices, rather than takeaways and order volumes. Deliveries across all groups were 7% ahead of January 2023, while takeaway and click-and-collect revenues were down 5%. Combined order numbers fell 2% year-on-year.
Deliveries now account for 11 pence in every pound spent with restaurant groups, CGA by NIQ’s research shows. Takeaways attract four pence in the pound, while eat-in sales are worth 85 pence.
“While 4% growth is not spectacular, eight months of year-on-year increases do indicate welcome stability in the delivery and takeaway sector,” says Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ director.
“Achieving decent profits on these sales, especially via third-party platforms, remains challenging, but consistency in the balance of at-home and eat-in trading is at least helping groups to plan operations with more confidence. They will be hoping that recent disruption to deliveries from staff strikes at leading providers will not compromise orders for long.”
