Delivery and takeaway sales dip at Britain's leading restaurant and pub groups

Delivery and takeaway sales have fallen from their peaks during the COVID-19 lockdowns, according to the CGA by NielsenIQ & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker.

The exclusive monitor found that sales in May 2022 were 29% below the level of May 2021. This marks the fifth consecutive month of sales, being below the corresponding period of 2021, when restrictions on eating and drinking out were heavily in place.

This dip does not, however, mean that sales have returned to pre-COVID-19 levels. In fact, growth is still present, and sales are 107% above May 2019 levels. TheTracker also found that combined delivery, takeaway and click-and-collect sales account for nearly 25 pence in every pound spent with the managed groups participating - which shows just how integral these methods have become for hospitality businesses.

"After flourishing during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, the delivery and takeaway sector has inevitably settled down as consumers go out to eat again," said Karl Chessell, CGA's business unit director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA. "Nevertheless, our Tracker shows the market is more than twice the size it was just three years ago, and it now accounts for a quarter of managed groups' trading. As the third-party delivery market matures, optimising sales and profits in it without compromising core eat-in business is crucial."

Slerp founder JP Then says: "We are now getting better visibility as to what a post-pandemic new normal looks like, and it's clear that takeaway and delivery are an important aspect of the channel mix, representing a quarter of revenues. Operators are looking closely at the margins and investing into the channels that enable them to operate effectively and provide consumers with enough bang for their buck. Establishing a direct online ordering channel with a unique proposition remains key to capturing discretionary consumer spend."