39 Food Delivery Statistics Restaurateurs Can Learn From in 2024

Online food delivery has become a dominant force, and as a restaurant owner, staying informed about the latest trends is the secret ingredient to success. Today, diners are embracing the ease and convenience of mobile apps and online ordering platforms. But this shift in behavior isn't just about technology — it's about understanding what your customers crave.

Our team has gathered the latest food delivery statistics every restaurateur should know, including customer preferences, industry predictions and what people are ordering. By equipping yourself with this knowledge, you can tailor your restaurant's strategy to what your customers want most. 

From optimizing your online ordering system to crafting irresistible promotions, we'll show you how to leverage these trends and drive more sales through your doors (or, rather, delivery bags!).

Market Share, Spending and Predictions

Good news: Online food delivery is booming, and it's not going anywhere. People love the ease of ordering, especially on their phones. In fact, mobile apps are king right now when it comes to food delivery.

That's why I recommend setting up a mobile app for your customers to order from. Plus, a mobile-friendly website design is a must to help increase your sales. 

Ottavio’s Italian Restaurant used Owner.com to set up its own branded mobile app and commission-free online ordering. This resulted in $24,000 a month in orders — food delivery can do a lot for your restaurant.

Check out the market share and predictions below to see just how big online food delivery is getting:

1. Food delivery services are expected to grow from $3.7 billion in 2023 to $90.3 billion by 2030. This is at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.4%. (Global Newswire)
2. In 2023, the number of online food delivery users worldwide surpassed 1.6 billion, a 12% increase from the previous year. (Market.US)
3. Experts predict that 2.5 billion individuals worldwide will receive food delivery services by 2027. (Market.US)
4. Revenue from food delivery services could reach about $85 billion by the end of 2024. (Statista)   
5. Online ordering represented 27% of all orders (online and in-store for restaurants and convenience stores) in 2023. (Paytronix)
6. As of the beginning of 2023, an average of $36.20 is spent on each food delivery order. (PYMNTS)
7. Experts anticipate mobile apps to be the most targeted channel type for online food delivery due to their ease of use, accessibility and real-time order tracking. (Global Newswire)

8. By the end of 2024, the online food delivery sector could see a 30% increase in the use of sustainable packaging and environmentally conscious delivery alternatives. (Market.US)
9. Total spending for food away from home (dining in, ordering and takeout) was an average of $3,639 annually per household. (Bureau of Labor Statistics) 
10. As of January 2024, DoorDash is the leading online food delivery app with a market share of 66%. The second highest is Uber Eats at 23%. (Statista)

Customer Preferences and Behaviors

Third-party apps are still around, but the buzz lately is all about supporting local businesses (#supportlocal!) and ordering from familiar favorites. People also love a good deal — who doesn't, right? Discounts, promotions and anything a little easier on the wallet are definitely trending.

Since people tend to order from places they already know and love, a loyalty program for your restaurant could be a game-changer. This kind of program can allow to:

• Create enticing deals and promotions — spread the word about your promotion with email marketing blasts.
• Turn new customers into regulars. Those sweet deals will bring people in, and the loyalty program will keep them coming back for more.

Rahul at Saffron Kitchen used Owner.com to create a loyalty program that would encourage customers to order directly from the website rather than from third-party apps. This resulted in tens of thousands of their customers enrolling in the program and ordering from the site.

We've also done some research on delivery fees and found that a $4 fee seems to be the magic number. It's low enough to keep customers happy but still helps your business thrive.

Want to dive deeper into what customers are looking for these days? Check out the stats below — it may give you a peek into your customers' minds:

11. Customers prefer a $4 delivery fee, which is the best price for driving restaurant sales. (Owner) 
12. Orders placed straight from restaurant websites are preferred by 40% of customers. (Deloitte)
13. In 2023, 68% of U.S. customers said they prefer ordering from local or independent restaurants via online delivery platforms. (Market.US)
14. 50% of diners say that they have ordered food from a delivery service, including through a restaurant website, DoorDash and Uber Eats. (Square)
15. In the past month, 77% of consumers ordered food delivery,  and 43% of consumers reported placing the same order at least once per week. (DoorDash)
16. 55% of customers pick restaurants that they visit often when ordering food delivery. (DoorDash)
17. In 2023, 13% of customers said they preferred using third-party applications or websites, while 40% of customers chose to place their orders through the restaurant's website. (Deloitte)
18. 37% of dine-in guests said that cheaper options and increased promotions and discounts would encourage them to visit restaurants more frequently. (Deloitte)
19. Customers love using mobile — those who use online ordering mobile apps have a 45% higher customer lifetime value than those of online apps, and they account for 34% of digital orders. (Paytronix)

20. Customers who order delivery spend 20% more than those who order takeout. (Paytronix)
21. Those who order directly through the restaurant order 35% more per transaction than those who order with third-party apps. (Paytronix)

Delivery App Statistics 

Delivery apps? They're not going anywhere. But let's be real: Those fees can sting — DoorDash charges up to 30% commission per order, yikes! The good news is that they can be a great way to get your restaurant out there and attract new customers.

Curious about how big delivery apps are right now? Check out these stats below — they'll give you the full picture!

22. 35% of consumers are ordering more food compared to 2022. (DoorDash)
23. DoorDash was the most downloaded app for food delivery and takeout in 2023 (over 21 million). (Statista)
24. In 2023, Uber Eats generated $12.1 billion in revenue. (Business of Apps)
25. According to data from DoorDash, Friday at 6 p.m. is the most popular time to order food. (DoorDash)

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26. In January 2024 alone, the Uber Eats app received over 1.5 million downloads. (Statista)
27. At the end of Q4 in 2023, DoorDash received 574 million orders (up 23% from last year) and $2.3 million in revenue. (DoorDash)

Dine-In vs. Delivery Facts 

Dine-in or delivery? It's an age-old question. But based on the latest data, food delivery is coming out on top, especially for the Gen Zers — they order delivery more than any other generation. On top of that, 1 in 4 Gen Zers use a restaurant’s social media pages when choosing a new place for delivery or takeout. 

It’s safe to say that Gen Zers are major players in shaping consumer habits (i.e., where and how people choose to eat). Basically, Gen Z holds the key to future food trends, so your restaurant's social media game has to be on point. Attract that crowd and get them drooling over your menu — they'll be ordering in no time.

Want more dine-in vs. delivery facts? Dive into the info below:

28. Food delivery is more popular than dining out — 77% of customers ordered delivery while 61% dined in. (DoorDash)
29. The average person orders delivery 4.5 times per month while dining out occurs only three times per month. (US. Foods)
30. 75% of consumers predict they will scale back on dining in person and order delivery through a third-person delivery service or app. (Square)
31. 69% of Gen Zers use food delivery apps, more than any other generation and four times more than Boomers. (PYMNTS)
32. Over half of customers prefer ordering delivery to going to the restaurant in person. (US. Foods)

What People Order on Food Delivery Apps

Thinking about spicing up your menu with some new dishes? These popular food delivery trends can be your secret weapon for inspiration and boosting those sales. Now, let's get to the good stuff — check out what people are craving on delivery apps these days below: 

33. According to DoorDash, french fries are the most ordered item, followed by: 
    1. Burgers
    2. Tacos
    3. Salad
    4. Pizza
34. Customers like it spicy — over 53 million items were ordered with added spice. (Grubhub)

1.  The top spicy orders made on Grubhub include:
   1. Spicy potato soft tacos
   2. Spicy chicken sandwiches
   3. Spicy tuna rolls
   4. Hot and sour soup
   5. Drunken noodles
2. The top three cuisines ordered on Grubhub include:
   1. American
   2. Mexican
   3. Chinese
3. Burrito bowls are the top trending order on Grubhub followed by: 
   1. Hash browns
   2. Cheeseburgers
   3. Burritos‍
4. French fries are the most ordered food item on Uber Eats, followed by:
   1. Garllic naan
   2. Pad thai
   3. Miso soup
   4. California roll
5. "No onions" is the most popular delivery request on Uber Eats, followed by:
   1. Dressing on the side
   2. Ranch
   3. Extra soy sauce

Knowing the top trending food people are ordering can help guide what menu items you should add. To make updating your menu easier, I recommend an online ordering tool with customization features. That means you can easily:

• Add new menu sections in a flash. Are burgers and fries your bread and butter? What about a "healthy bites" section for those on-the-go wellness customers?
• Sneak in some tempting add-ons. Ever notice how movie theaters nudge you towards popcorn and a drink? You can do the same! Think fries with cheese sauce or a side salad upgrade. These little extras are a solid restaurant promotion tactic that can seriously boost your sales.

With this trending food item data and an online ordering tool, you can keep your menu fresh, introduce strategic add-ons, and watch your profits sizzle.

Stay on Top of Food Delivery Trends To Boost Online Orders 

The online food delivery landscape is a vibrant and ever-changing industry. By staying informed about the latest trends and customer preferences, you can position your restaurant to thrive and boost sales. 

Want to be the master of your food delivery empire? Consider an online ordering system like Owner.com. We can help you take control of your sales, automate promotions and simplify delivery. It's a win-win for everyone — more sales for you and a smooth ordering experience for your customers. 

Sources:

• Global Newswire. (2024, January 25). Online Food Delivery Services Market to Reach US$ 90.3 Billion by 2030, Persistence Market Research. https://www.globenewswire.com/en/news-release/2024/01/25/2817022/0/en/Online-Food-Delivery-Services-Market-to-Reach-US-90-3-Billion-by-2030-Persistence-Market-Research.html (Accessed April 2024) 
• Market.US. (2024, March). Global Online Food Delivery Market By Product Type. https://market.us/report/online-food-delivery-market/ (Accessed April 2024)
• Statista. Market share of leading online meal delivery companies in the United States as of January 2024. (2024, January 11). https://www.statista.com/statistics/1235724/market-share-us-food-delivery-companies/ (Accessed April 2024)
• Paytronix. Online Ordering Report 2024. (2023, June 2).  https://39641841.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/39641841/Form%20Resources/Online%20Ordering%20Report%202024.pdf (Accessed April 2024)
• PYMNTS. Restaurant Customers Spend Twice as Much on Delivery Food Than Pickup. (2023, August 29). https://www.pymnts.com/news/delivery/2023/restaurant-customers-spend-twice-delivery-pickup/ (Accessed April 2024)  
• Bureau of Labor Statistics. Consumer Expenditures. (2023, September 8). https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cesan.nr0.htm (Accessed April 2024)
• Statista. Market share of leading online meal delivery companies in the United States as of January 2024. (2024, January 11). https://www.statista.com/statistics/1235724/market-share-us-food-delivery-companies/ (Accessed April 2024)
• Owner. Delivery Fees: Here's How Much To Charge (based on data). (2024, April 8). https://www.owner.com/blog/restaurants-delivery-fee (Accessed April 2024)
• Deloitte. The future of restaurants. (2023, June 24). https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/consumer-business/articles/future-of-restaurants-study.html (Accessed April 2024)
• Square. 2024 Dining Report: What Consumers Want From Restaurants in 2024 and Beyond. (2024, January 4). https://www.workwithsquare.com/rs/424-IAB-218/images/square_restaurant_dining_report_2024.pdf (Accessed April 2024)
• DoorDash. Restaurant Online Ordering Trends. (2023, August 8). https://assets.ctfassets.net/trvmqu12jq2l/5fTVhyjeP5pNS29PrXNaA5/5abf1cac979159aeaf9615b7b8e8d2e4/2023_Restaurant_Online_Ordering_EN-US.pdf (Accessed April 2024)
• Statista. Number of downloads of leading online food delivery and takeout apps in the United States in 2023. (2024, March 4). https://www.statista.com/statistics/1369528/food-delivery-app-downloads-united-states/ (Accessed April 2024)
• Business of Apps. Uber Eats Revenue and Usage Statistics (2024). (2024, April 10). https://www.businessofapps.com/data/uber-eats-statistics/ (Accessed April 2024)
• Statista. Monthly app downloads of Uber Eats in the United States from January 2020 to January 2024. (2024, March 18). https://www.statista.com/statistics/1457101/ubereats-monthly-app-downloads-united-states/ (Accessed April 2024)
• DoorDash. DoorDash Releases Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Financial Results. (2024, February 15). https://s22.q4cdn.com/280253921/files/doc_financials/2023/q4/DASH-Q4-23-Earnings-Press-Release.pdf (Accessed April 2024)
• DoorDash. 42 Food Delivery Statistics Restaurants Need to Know in 2023. (2023, October 10). https://get.doordash.com/en-us/blog/food-delivery-statistics (Accessed April 2024) 
• US. Foods. The Diner Dispatch: 2023 American Dining Habits. (2023, July 17). https://www.usfoods.com/our-services/business-trends/american-dining-out-habits-2023.html (Accessed April 2024)
• Square. The Future of Restaurants Report: 2024 Edition. (2024, January 31). https://squareup.com/us/en/the-bottom-line/series/foc/future-of-restaurants (Accessed April 2024)
• PYMNTS. (2023, April 19). Gen Z 4x More Likely to Use Food Delivery Services Than Boomers. https://www.pymnts.com/news/delivery/2023/gen-z-4x-more-likely-to-use-food-delivery-services-than-boomers/ (Accessed April 2024)
• Grubhub. Top dining trends: Insights from 2023 Grubhub data. (2023). https://get.grubhub.com/blog/2023-grubhub-delivered/ (Accessed April 2024)
• Uber Eats. The 2023 Uber Eats Cravings Report. (2023, October 19). https://www.uber.com/newsroom/2023-uber-eats-cravings-report/ (Accessed April 2024)

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