The figure represents a slight strengthening from growth of 4.6% in August. Year-on-year trading has been comfortably above the rate of inflation in every month of 2024 so far.
The Tracker shows restaurants’ at-home sales continue to be powered by deliveries, which finished 8.5% ahead of the levels of September 2023. They accounted for nearly 12% of restaurants’ total sales last month.
Groups were also buoyed by 0.7% growth in takeaway and click-and-collect sales—a second successive month of fractional growth after a long-term decline in trading as consumers switched to the convenience of deliveries. However, deliveries now account for 57% of restaurants’ total at-home orders, with takeaways and click-and-collects sharing 43%.
Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “Growth in deliveries and takeaways has outstripped in-venue sales for most of 2024, and September’s poor weather meant many consumers continued to order in their restaurant meals rather than eat out. The modest revival of pick-up orders is an encouraging sign of stability, though growth here is being achieved by price rises rather than extra volumes. With spending still tight, real-terms growth in either channel will be hard earned for some time to come.”
The CGA by NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker is the leading source of data and insight for the delivery and takeaway market. It provides monthly reports on the value and volume of sales, with year-on-year comparisons and splits between food and drink revenue. It offers a benchmark by which brands can measure their performance, and participants receive detailed data in return for their contributions.
Partners on the Tracker are: Azzurri Group, Big Table Group, Byron, Chopstix, Cote, Creams Café, Dishoom, Five Guys, Gaucho Grill, Honest Burgers, Island Poke, Mitchells & Butlers, Nando’s, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut UK, Popeyes, Prezzo, Rosa’s Thai, Tasty Plc, TGI Fridays UK, Tortilla, Wagamama, Wasabi and YO! Sushi. Anyone interested in joining the Tracker should contact Karen Bantoft here.