NEWS
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Eating out numbers receive welcome Xmas boost Year-on-year growth in delivery and takeaway sales at Britain’s leading restaurant groups slowed to 1.9% in December 2024, CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker shows. It means at-home sales have risen for 19 months in a row. However, the latest number is well short of November’s growth of 6.2% and marks the Tracker’s lowest point since March. For the first time in 2024, it fell slightly below the UK’s general monthly rate of inflation of 2.4%, as measured by the Consumer Prices Index. December’s figure may reflect a consumer shift towards going out rather than ordering in over Christmas as spending confidence increased. They were further encouraged out of home by mild weather and the timing of festive holidays, which gave many consumers longer periods of time off work. A Tracker breakdown indicates 2.2% like-for-like growth in delivery sales, while takeaway and click-and-collect revenue was flatter at 1.4%. Total delivery and takeaway sales – including
from sites opened in the last 12 months – rose by 10.3%. Karl Chessell, CGA by NIQ’s director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA, said: “After 11 months of real-terms growth for deliveries and takeaways, December’s slip below inflation was a disappointing end to 2024 for restaurant groups. But the flipside is that many consumers were confident enough to
head out to celebrate rather than stay in. As more of their economic pressures ease, we can be cautiously optimistic about growth in both channels in 2025, but the mounting burden of costs for hospitality groups will put pressure on margins for some time to come.” The CGA by NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker is a leading source of data for the delivery and takeaway market.
Nominees announced for Casual Dining Awards Recognising excellence in multi-site restaurants, pubs & bars, the 2025 Casual Dining Awards highlight achievements in areas such as menu innovation, marketing and sustainability – and the shortlist has been confirmed. Leading brands and operators including Ask Italian, Pizza Pilgrims, Bella Italia, PizzaExpress and Zizzi are in the frame across 19 categories, including Restaurant Brand of the Year, Opening of the Year, New Concept, Menu Innovation Award, Brand Marketing, Best Designed Site, Sustainable Operator, Casual Dining Group of the Year and more. The Casual Dining Awards – in association with The National Restaurant, Pub & Bar Show (the new name for Casual Dining) – is organised by Diversified and held at the London Marriott Hotel in Grosvenor Square on 24 April 2025. The Trailblazer of 4 P&P_226_Mar25_p04-15_News_JB AB_G.indd 4
The Year Award (sponsored by Uber Eats), The Special Award and The Legendary Brand Award (sponsored by Coca-Cola Europacific Partners) will also be announced on the night. www.pizzapastamagazine.co.uk 20/02/2025 11:11
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