JUST EAT: takeaway industry worth £9 billion to UK economy
The online ordering service published research will also be launching the British Takeaway Awards.
The awards will be to recognize and support the booming industry.
The analysis, conducted by independent economists the Centre for Economic and Business Research (Cebr), was commissioned by JUST EAT to establish the contribution of the sector to the UK economy in 2014.
Graham Corfield, UK Managing Director of JUST EAT, said: “We know takeaways contribute a huge amount to our culture but what many don’t realise is the enormous impact takeaway restaurants – often small, independent, and family-run – make to our economy.”
The analysis shows the takeaway sector contributed £4 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy last year, equivalent to one eighth (12.5%) of the entire food services sector (which includes restaurants, cafes, canteens, pubs, bars, events catering and of course takeaways).
At £9 billion, the sector is worth more than other service industries like design (£5.7 billion) and hairdressing and beauty (£4.7 billion). In jobs terms, the takeaway sector is around a third larger than the insurance industry (153,000 FTE jobs vs. 98,100 FTE jobs), and roughly the same size as the UK’s regular armed forces (156,630 people).
Graham said, “The takeaway sector rightly deserves to be recognised and championed as one of the key industries supporting small businesses across the UK and this is why JUST EAT has launched the British Takeaway Awards - the first ever multi-cuisine takeaway awards in the UK.”
“A takeaway is the cornerstone of a great British night in. But there’s never been one set of multi-cuisine awards voted for by consumers to recognise these takeaway restaurants, until now. If you love your local takeaway - whether its a Sushi, Chinese or Indian - vote for it on www.theBTAs.co.uk and help your favourite takeaway restaurant receive the recognition it deserves.”
The British Takeaway Awards will take place on 9th November at The Savoy in London. Fifteen awards will be presented; made up of 13 regional awards for the best loved takeaway restaurants locally, a special recognition award, and the most coveted of the prizes, the best takeaway restaurant in Britain.
