New Study Finds Increase in Restaurant Delivery

Hungry consumers are opting for dinner by delivery at an increasing rate, according to the 2018 Takeout & Off-Premise Consumer Trend Report. The report, which explores technology, consumer lifestyles, and other factors impacting off-premise occasions, may ease the concerns of restaurant operators concerned with the potential cannibalization of dine-in or carryout business.

"Among those who have increased their usage of takeout since 2016, ease of use with regards to mobile apps and websites is increasingly cited as a driving force behind this," says Bret Yonke, manager of consumer insights at Technomic. "Moving forward, look for third-party delivery companies to seek out greater brand loyalty from consumers by offering subscription-based packages that provide exclusive perks beyond simply waiving delivery fees."

Additional key takeaways from the report include:

• 30% of regular takeout users (those who order carryout or delivery at least once a month) say they typically purchase more food when ordering carryout versus dining in
• Up to 43% of regular takeout users are willing to pay extra for eco-friendly packaging
• 78% of all delivery orders are placed directly through restaurants versus third-party delivery companies

The findings were compiled from more than 1,450 consumer responses.