NPD Reports Food Delivery On The Rise

Feb. 10, 2016

Although food delivery is not a new phenomenon, the accessibility and availability of these direct-to-door home meal services, whether in-home meal kits or foodservice delivery is unprecedented, finds The NPD Group, a leading global information company.

In terms of restaurant delivery, delivery traffic outside of pizza is growing strongly, up by 33 percent since 2012, while traditional quick service restaurant (QSR) pizza delivery is on the decline, according to NPD’s foodservice market research. Foodservice delivery options outside of pizza are still relatively small, with roughly six million delivery-related visits in the past year. However, there is little doubt that the growth rate for categories outside of QSR pizza will continue on a strong growth path. All types of restaurants are increasingly partnering with delivery services, such as Eat24, Grub Hub, and Seamless. As UberEATS and Amazon Prime Now restaurant delivery continues to roll out nationally, delivery will see significant growth. NPD’s forecasts that off-premise foodservice will continue to outpace overall restaurant industry traffic growth over the next decade.

Editor’s Note: Consumers are accustomed to ordering goods online and having them delivered to their door quickly, and with the uptick in options available, this presents another obstacle for vending and micro market operators during all day parts. Offering a variety of trendy food items will be one way of competing with this service.