Almost a quarter of Irish people (23%) having used a food delivery service to order groceries in the past year, research has shown.
According to a recently published Just Eat Takeaway & Food Delivery Report, of this 23%, the shoppers spend an average of €174.30 on grocery delivery services in a month.
The report, comprises industry and consumer data examining the overall value of the takeaway and food delivery sector in Ireland as well as the key innovations, trends and consumer habits which are shaping the industry.
Just Eat noted that over the last 12-18 months, grocery has been a key focus for the company globally and is an area of rapid growth for the business.
As the company forges new partnerships with major supermarkets and convenience retailers both in Ireland and internationally, customers in the future can expect even more choice and flexibility when ordering via Just Eat, it added.
Commenting on the launch of the report, Amanda Roche-Kelly, managing director, Just Eat Ireland, said, "The launch of today’s [27 June] report marks our 15th year in the Irish market.
"Over that time our business has evolved significantly from primarily a takeaway offering to more than 3,600 partners including restaurants, takeaways, grocery and convenience retailers. We now offer options for breakfast, lunch, dinner and everything in between."
Read More: Who Is?... Amanda Roche-Kelly, Managing Director, Just Eat Ireland
Total Annual Expenditure
Other findings showed that the total annual expenditure on food delivery and takeaway orders in the Irish market is an estimated €2.2 billion ex VAT. In comparison, the agriculture sector sits at 1.02%, so the food delivery and takeaway sector represents a significant contributor to Ireland’s GDP overall.
When it comes to Ireland’s consumption habits, on average consumers order a takeaway 2.9 times per month, spending an average of €46.49 on their favourite cuisines.
The report also finds that ordering food is mostly a shared experience, with 54% of restaurant partners saying orders are for at least two people while 37% say the average takeaway order is for a family.
Only 9% of orders are for solo eaters.
Other Findings
While provenance has played an important role in the food industry for many years, as consumers become more sustainably aware, knowledge around a restaurant’s sustainable practices has increased in importance.
Over half (54%) say knowing the carbon footprint of their takeaway order is now important to them and almost two thirds (65%) believe it’s important that restaurants are transparent in what they are doing to be sustainable.
"A key trend coming from our report is the continued demand for sustainable food, delivery and packaging options which are now key considerations for consumers when ordering food," she added.
"At Just Eat, our goal is to support our restaurant partners on their sustainable journey and one of the key successes to date has been the introduction of our Notpla seaweed coated takeaway boxes as an alternative to the industry norm of plastic or bio-plastic lining."
Read More: Just Eat To Roll Out Notpla Packaging For Remaining Leinster Fixtures In RDS
Since launching in Ireland in 2008, Just Eat has grown from approximately 200 restaurant partners to more than 3,600.
The make-up of these partners has also changed significantly over that time, from primarily traditional takeaways to a cross section of restaurants and grocery partners.
© 2023 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. For more technology news, click here. Click subscribe to sign up for the Checkout print edition.
