Delivery, take away sales down 19% YoY in July

This as sales doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Despite less COVID-19 restrictions, restaurant and pub groups’ delivery and takeaway sales dropped 19% from July 2021 due to inflation and trading restriction, July 2022 CGA Hospitality at Home Tracker showed.

“It is the ninth month in a row that the Tracker has recorded a year-on-year decline,” read the CGA report.

Sales still doubled more than twice the 2019 levels. These groups posted a combined delivery and takeaway growth of 112% in July 2022 compared to July 2019

Delivery sales went up by 265%, whilst takeaway and click-and-collect sales achieved more modest growth of 46%. 

“This reflects an ongoing shift in buying habits, with more consumers embracing the ease of online orders via third-party platforms and opting for door-to-door delivery from outlet to consumer,” read the CGA report.

Karl Chessell, CGA’s business unit director - hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “July’s hot weather prompted many consumers to head out to pubs and restaurants—especially those with outdoor areas—rather than ordering food in. As we move further away from COVID restrictions we can expect year-on-year delivery and takeaway sales to drop further below the peaks of lockdowns.” 

“However, demand remains high, and our latest Tracker data is a reminder of the seismic shift towards deliveries in the last three years. All restaurant and pub operators now need a multi-faceted approach to ensure they continue to capitalise on opportunities in the at-home channel without cannibalising on-site sales,” added Chessel.