Takeaway industry in UK employs more than telecoms, advertising and Premier League football, says report
The takeaway sector has been one of the strongest performing areas of the UK economy over the last decade.
The Takeaway Economy Report, commissioned by Just Eat for the British Takeaway Campaign, is a new body representing all those involved in the supply and preparation of takeaway food. It was prepared with the support of the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) and examines the valuable economic, social and cultural contribution that the takeaway industry makes to the UK.
According to the report, the increase in consumer spending has supported strong growth in employment. Across the UK, the takeaway sector has created 41,000 new jobs since 2009, and now employs a record of 231,350 people – more than telecoms, advertising and Premier League football.
As a sector where small businesses thrive, 75% of takeaway restaurants employ fewer than five staff – the employment options it offers are varied. As of 2016, the industry directly supported more than 79,000 full-time employees, and over 128,000 part-time employees, alongside 23,000 self-employed entrepreneurs.
Takeaways represent a small but growing portion of household food expenditure – 12.1% of total spending on food in 2016, or an average of £30 a month. This spending has increased significantly in recent years – up 25% since 2009 – growing steadily even during the last recession.
Graham Corfield, UK managing director of Just Eat said, “It continues to grow at a rate well above the rest of the UK economy. This growth has been driven by the sector’s ability to adapt to consumer demand for more variety and more convenience. Takeaways have rapidly taken advantage of new technologies – online apps in particular are now a mainstream part of business for restaurants offering takeaway. Innovation has been central to the industry’s success and now, more than ever, the sector needs to be where the customer is.”
Moreover, the industry is bringing in new revenue and supporting new jobs in regions across the UK. The largest takeaway markets are in London and the South East, which accounted for over a quarter (£2.7 billion) of spending on takeaway in 2016 – up 5.5% from 2014. But the sector’s vibrancy can be seen across the country. Since 2014, the areas with the highest growth were Northern Ireland (21.3%) and the North West (13.2%).
