The number of delivery and takeaway sales last month was more than double February 2019, data shows.
According to CGA, a data and research consultancy for the out-of-home food and drinks market, sales were up by 131% compared to pre-covid levels three years ago.
Growth can largely be attributed to delivery orders, which were nearly four times higher than in 2019.
‘Eat-at-home’ sales accounted for more than a quarter of every pound spent with managed restaurant and pub groups, the research highlighted.
Perhaps understandably, sales were 17% lower than last year, when most of the country was in lockdown and eating out wasn’t an option.
“As restrictions end and restaurants and pubs recover their eating-out sales, it’s not surprising to see a drop in deliveries and takeaways from the heights of last year’s lockdown,” said Karl Chessell, the director of hospitality operators and food for the EMEA region.
“However, the ordering-in habits that consumers have established during the last two years are not going to disappear.”
“People have grown accustomed to the convenience of hospitality at home, and this is now an established part of their repertoire of eating occasions, allowing them to enjoy their favourite food both in restaurant and at home.”