The UK foodservice delivery and takeaway market is driven by changing consumer habits and new technology. Consumers are increasingly price-sensitive, with 57% seeking special offers when ordering a takeaway. Trust also plays a key role in their decision-making as 47% are influenced by positive reviews. To attract and retain customers, operators must utilise promotions, dynamic pricing and positive feedback.
A key challenge for brands is intense competition and the need to stand out. Brands must build trust by providing real value beyond discounting, and by delivering memorable experiences. Failure to meet rising expectations for convenience and quality risks losing customers to more agile competitors.
The biggest opportunity lies in catering to the ‘premium takeaway’ trend, which is being driven by younger, higher-spending consumers. Under-45s value quality, support independent businesses and engage with loyalty programs offering more than basic discounts. By focusing on premium menus, surprise perks and authentic storytelling, operators can attract this lucrative demographic and build loyalty. Seamlessly integrating loyalty programs into delivery platforms, as Wagamama has done recently with Deliveroo, is a key way to boosting engagement and growth.
Takeaway decisions are now shaped by value, trust and experience, influenced by reviews, loyalty perks and emotional connections to brands.
Trish Caddy, Associate Director – Foodservice
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OVERVIEW
- Overview
- How big is the opportunity?
- How deliveries and takeaways win with value and convenience
- Key loyalty strategies you need to know
- Key insights on consumers’ takeaway choices
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INSIGHTS
- Value-guided decision-making
- How special offers and reviews shape food delivery choices
- Why do discounts and reviews matter more than ever?
- Promotions and reviews drive engagement
- Operators: prep smart, package thoughtfully and design menus for the journey
- Marketers: maximise engagement with promotions and reviews
- What we’ve seen: how brands win loyalty in a value-driven market
- Mintel predicts: AI, gamification and smarter promotions by 2030
- Families drive convenience
- Young, time-pressed families driving off-peak demand
- Busy families drive convenience
- How young families define takeaway trends
- Operators: provide quick and healthy meals for busy parents
- Marketers: attracting young families with creative strategies to boost off-peak demand
- What we’ve seen: smart ways to serve busy homes
- Mintel predicts: technology will redefine family meals by 2030
- Premium takeaways
- High-spending under-45s love indie takeaways and loyalty rewards
- Under-45s are big spenders who prioritise strong value propositions
- How Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping premium takeaways?
- Operators: provide personal touches and premium takeaway experiences
- Marketers: engaging under-45s with experiences, purpose and loyalty that matters
- What we’ve seen: loyalty goes digital
- Mintel predicts: AI, personalisation and next-level takeaway experiences
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INNOVATION
- Analyst view on innovation
- Key innovations you need to know
- Glovo (Spain) adds social features to boost engagement
- Domino’s menu discounts amid cost reductions
- Deliveroo’s loyalty program and promotions drive growth
- Little Dessert Shop launches nationwide delivery service
- How “mumfluencer” helped Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza connect with busy families midweek
- Uber Eats and PAW Patrol’s back-to-school breakfast bundles (Australia)
- Papa John’s updates loyalty program for instant, flexible rewards
- Wagamama’s “Soul Club” loyalty launches on Deliveroo
- Prosus to snap up Just Eat in €4.1bn deal
- AI-fuelled consolidation reshapes food delivery’s future
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DATA
- Market
- UK food delivery and takeaway market thrives
- What are the key factors driving this market?
- Market size
- Forecast – note on US trade disruption
- Market forecast
- Market size and forecast
- Market forecast and prediction intervals
- Market segmentation
- Graph 1: foodservice dine-in vs takeaway sales, 2020-24
- Consumer data
- Takeaway and delivery frequency trends upward in 2025…
- Graph 2: annual changes in foodservice delivery and takeaway purchase frequency, 2019-25
- …driven by worse-off consumers
- Graph 3: annual changes in weekly foodservice delivery and takeaway purchase frequency, by financial situations, 2023-25
- Direct restaurant orders rebound, while third-party growth remains modest
- Graph 4: annual changes in ordering methods from a restaurant/takeaway, 2019-25
- Home delivery rebounded, but drive-throughs dip
- Graph 5: annual changes in methods of direct order, 2023-25
- Pizza and fried chicken surge, Indian takeaway declines
- Graph 6: annual changes in delivery and takeaway food preferences, 2023-25
- Special offers and customer reviews drive choices
- Graph 7: key factors when choosing foodservice delivery and takeaway, 2024-25
- Further analysis
- Key factors driving takeaway/home delivery choices – TURF analysis
- Who’s willing to pay more? – CHAID analysis
- Companies and brands
- Food app battle: who’s winning on spend and frequency?
- Graph 8: customer spend and frequency across selected UK foodservice delivery and takeaway brands among Snoop SpendMapper’s cohort, 2024-25
- Under-45s crave more than just takeaways
- Graph 9: brand affinity, spend and customer reach among Snoop SpendMapper’s cohort aged 18-44, by brand, 2024-25
- Deliveroo outspends rivals in 2024
- Graph 10: advertising spend, by selected foodservice delivery and takeaway brands, 2023-25
- Deliveroo Plus’ strategic social campaign to boost subscriptions in 2024
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DEFINITIONS AND METHODOLOGY
- Report scope and definitions
- Market definition
- Abbreviations
- Abbreviations and terms
- Methodology – consumer research
- Consumer research methodology
- TURF analysis methodology
- How to read: TURF analysis
- CHAID methodology
- Methodology – market size and forecast
- Forecast methodology
- Methodology – companies and brands
- Nielsen Ad Intel coverage
- Snoop SpendMapper methodology
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