UK takeaway market to reach £23.4bn by 2027: IGD

This is a 26% increase from 2019.

The UK food-to-go market is expected to reach £23.4bn in five years, which is 26% higher than the pre-pandemic levels, insight provider, IGD, said.

For this year, IGD said UK food-to-go channel will be worth £18.9bn, which is 3% more than the value in 2019. 

Despite this, IGD sees that the market will decelerate by end of 2022 to 2023 due to rising fuel, energy and food cost. 

Nicola Knight, Senior Analyst for Food-to-Go and author of the forecasts, said, “Foodservice businesses were the biggest beneficiaries of pent-up demand for food on-the-go last year because of all the innovation they put into working around lockdowns, such as flexible delivery solutions and click and collect offers."

"But as the cost-of living-crisis comes in these operators will be under pressure as they become more of a premium option compared with lower priced food-to-go alternatives from a retailer, or preparing food at home,” she added.

Inflation will be the main driver of growth over the next 18 months, IGD said.

“Inflation is already affecting many consumers but until now food-to-go has continued to perform strongly. This will change as the true impact of rising prices really kicks in in the last quarter and takes hold next year. So, while inflation will boost the overall value of the market, volume will, at best, stay the same in 2023," said Knight.