After a pandemic-driven boom, the takeaway and delivery market is showing signs of decline., according to AHDB. However, sales through delivery apps continue to grow, supported by loyal and highly engaged users. Against this shifting backdrop, some red meat categories are creating new opportunities for growth.
Takeaway and delivery market under pressure
Takeaway and delivery account for 26% of all out-of-home (OOH) spending, worth £17.7bn over the past year.
However, the market has lost £400m worth of spend in the last year, a decline of 2.2% year-on-year.
This decline comes from:
- Smaller baskets: 44% of the loss is because people are buying less each time
- Fewer trips: 40% comes from people making fewer transactions overall
- People opting out: 17% comes from people stopping this type of spend entirely
Rising financial pressure is a key factor. 80% of consumers are now extremely or very concerned about the cost of living, 8% higher than a year ago.
Since 72% of takeaway buyers see them as a luxury, consumers under financial strain may cut back even more in this area.
Consumers are becoming more selective about when and how they buy takeaways driven by value, convenience and occasion.
Lamb is thriving in takeaway and delivery
Within the takeaway and delivery market, red meat spend is stable. It has declined only 0.1% year-on-year and was worth £4bn in the last year.
Lamb was the standout performer with spending up 13.9%, driven by kebabs.
Pork spend declined by 5.2%, driven by breakfast, sandwich and pizza dishes.
Beef spend also fell, down 2.3%, due to high inflation. However, beef remains the key protein for burgers, delivering 64% of burger value in the last year Chicken follows in second place with 32%.
Delivery apps continue to grow
Platforms such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat generated £2.6bn in takeaway and delivery spending.
Twenty per cent of people across Great Britain are now using these apps, with loyalty schemes keeping users active and engaged.
Spending through delivery apps increased by 0.5% in the last year. This growth is being driven by existing users ordering more frequently, highlighting the effectiveness of app loyalty schemes in maintaining engagement.
Lamb and pork perform well
Lamb spend through delivery apps rose by 36.7% year-on-year, growing at a faster rate than the broader takeaway and delivery market.
Pork is also performing well, with spending through delivery apps growing by 54.7%. Pork’s performance is driven by burgers, sandwiches and pizzas.
Beef declines
In contrast, beef spend through delivery apps fell by 18%. This reflects the decline seen in the broader takeaway and delivery market.
Delivery apps growing in the retail market with Gen Z
In the retail market, delivery apps such as Just Eat and Deliveroo and rapid delivery from retailers such as Whoosh (Tesco) and Chop Chop (Sainsburys) are also growing in importance. Usage reached 22% in March 2026, up three percentage points compared with November 2024.
These options are very popular with younger consumers. Almost half (49%) of Gen Z consumers have ordered groceries through them in the last four weeks.
Consumers mainly use rapid delivery apps to:
- Save time
- Buy items for a specific meal
- Avoid visiting a physical store
- Buy forgotten items
- Access exclusive discounts and promotions
Delivery cost and speed are important factors when choosing a delivery app.
Users tend to be loyal, with 50% of shoppers returning to the same delivery platform whenever they make a purchase.
One in five shoppers using these delivery routes for takeaways are also adding groceries to their basket. This showcases the opportunity for retail to tap into takeaway and delivery occasions.
What this means for red meat purchases
The takeaway and delivery market is likely to remain under pressure as shoppers look to save money during the cost-of-living crisis.
However, red meat will continue to play a key role, headed up by dishes such as lamb kebabs and beef burgers.
Delivery apps appear well placed to maintain their importance among younger consumers who value convenience, speed and loyalty rewards.
Within these apps, pork and lamb dishes will continue to dominate.
