According to the tracker, combined sales in July were 19% down compared with July 2021, when the sector was impacted by lingering trading restrictions and consumer hesitations surrounding eating out.
CGA business unit director hospitality operators and food EMEA Karl Chessell said: “July’s hot weather prompted many consumers to head out to pubs and restaurant, especially those with outdoor areas, rather than ordering food in.
“As we move further away from covid restrictions we can expect year-on-year delivery and takeaway sales to drop further below the peaks of lockdowns. However, demand remains high, and our latest Tracker data is a reminder of the seismic shift towards deliveries in the last three years.”
Ongoing shift
This was the ninth month in a row the tracker has recorded a year-on-year decline, though levels remain well ahead of pre-pandemic levels.
However, sales were still running at more than twice the level seen before the pandemic, with groups having recorded combined delivery and takeaway growth of 112% in July 2022 compared to July 2019, when they were operating as normal.
Additionally, delivery sales were up by 265% while takeaway and click-and-collect sales achieved more modest growth of 46%, reflecting an ongoing shift in buying habits, with more consumers embracing the ease of online orders via third-party platforms and opting for door-to-door delivery, according to CGA.
Multi-faceted approach
Chessell added: “All restaurant and pub operators now need a multi-faceted approach to ensure they continue to capitalise on opportunities in the at-home channel without cannibalising on-site sales.”
This comes as earlier this week saw food inflation hit its highest level in 14 years during August, rising from 7% in July to 9.3% in August, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson OBE said: “Mounting cost pressures up and down supply chains meant shop price inflation hit a new high in August.
“As retailers grapple with growing cost pressures, there is only so much they can shoulder.”
