Food Delivery Statistics

Report Highlights

  • The average person with a food delivery app has two such apps and uses them 3 times every month.
  • The most common complaint among food delivery drivers was weak or no tips, cited by 60% of drivers.
  • The most common complaint from customers was food not being the correct temperature, with 17% being “consistently irritated” by this.
  • Food delivery apps are now used by a wide range of people, but most commonly younger people, especially aged 18-29.
  • The food delivery industry’s revenue has increased 300% in the last 5 years.
  • It is predicted to grow another $43 billion by 2025.
  • 42% of food purchases are now done online.

food delivery statistics

Table of Contents

Which Demographics Use Food Delivery the Most?

Studies show that users of delivery apps are more likely to be young and, surprisingly, often low-income. The reported income levels may be skewed however, by students and/or young adults living with family.

  • According to a study by Gloria Food, 86% of U.S. survey respondents have used delivery at least once per month.
  • 63% of people between ages 18 – 29 having used a multi-restaurant food delivery app in the past 90 days.
  • 51% of people between ages 30 – 44 have used this service, while 29% of people between ages 45 – 60 have.
  • Only 14% of people 60 years old or older have used a multi-restaurant food delivery app within the past 90 days.
  • Of people who reported $0 – $9,999 in annual income, 51.6% had used a multi-restaurant delivery app within 90 days.
  • Percent usage by income level continues to decrease until $150,000 – $174,999, with 25.3% in this group using such apps.
  • Usage jumps up beginning with the $175,000 – $199,999 income level, with 36.2% in this group using these apps.
  • Of people with $200,000 or more per year in income, 39.6% had used a multi-restaurant delivery app in the past 90 days.

Interested in more? Take a look at these Doordash Statistics, Food Delivery Market Share and Amazon Statistics.

Is Food Delivery a Growing Market?

  • Yes, over the last five years, the food delivery industry’s revenue has increased 300%.
  • Experts predict the industry to grow by another $43 billion by the year 2025.
  • Between March 2020 – March 2021, the percentage of Americans who used a food delivery app increased by 11 percentage points.
  • 64% of Millenials and 53% of survey respondents total agreed that food delivery and takeout are “essential to the way they live.”
  • The search for “food delivery software” increased 179% on Software Advice’s website from February, 2020 to March, 2020.

Food Delivery Usage Statistics

  • Although food delivery is associated with modern technology, the first known food delivery was in Naples, Italy in 1889.
  • On average, people have 2 food delivery apps each, using them 3 times per month.
  • 54% of people decide on the restaurant first, then search for it in the food delivery app.
  • On the other hand, 46% of people open the food delivery app first, then look for options for restaurants.
  • Generally, people are not willing to wait more than 40 minutes for estimated delivery time.
  • Almost 25% of people will tolerate an hour or more wait time for estimated delivery, though.
  • 7% of people are only willing to wait a maximum of 20 minutes for a delivery.
  • 31% of customers are willing to wait 30 minutes for a delivery, 27% for 40 minutes, and only 12% for 50 minutes.
  • 20% of consumers say they are willing to wait 60 minutes for a delivery.
  • Only 3% say they are willing to wait 70 minutes or more for estimated delivery wait time.
  • Many people are willing to use delivery even for very short distances, on average as little as 1.5 miles away.
  • 31% of customers choose delivery even for orders less than 0.5 miles away, and 33% for 0.5 – 1 mile away.
  • That comes to 45% of customers who are willing to choose delivery for orders 1 mile or less away.
  • 42% of food is now purchased online.

Food Delivery Financial Statistics

  • On average, customers say they are not willing to pay more than $8.50 total for service fee, delivery fee, and tip.
  • 35% say they are only willing to pay a maximum of $5.00 for the total of these costs.
  • 37% stated they are willing to pay between $6.00 – $10.00 total, and 28% said between $11 – $15 total.
  • On average, deliverers and customers agree that $4.00 is a good tip.
  • 95% of customers regularly tip their food deliverers, with 63% doing so through the app and 27% with cash.
  • Delivery and service fees affect how much 66% of people are willing to tip.
  • A little more than half (53%) of people tip differently based on weather conditions.
  • 26% of consumers use a budget of about $25 when ordering for delivery, while 34% spend up to $50.
  • Some analysts say delivery could one day make up 40% of restaurant sales.
  • Restaurants report, however, that more delivery means lower profit, with 20% – 40% of delivery revenue sidelined to third-parties.

Food Delivery Complaints Statistics

The fast pace and added cost of the Food Delivery industry certainly has its challenges and pain points. Customers want their food delivered fresh and quickly, while deliverers and restaurants want to earn a good living.

Food Delivery Complaints from Customers

Quality, pricing, and variety of food topped customers’ complaints about delivered meals.

  • The top complaint from customers was food not being the correct temperature, with 17% being “consistently irritated” with this issue.
  • A close runner up was food being delivered late, with 16% of customers citing this complaint.
  • Incorrect orders was cited by 12% as being a constant source of irritation, while another 11% complained of inconsistent pricing.
  • 10% of consumers complained of their food getting “shaken or messed up.”
  • Another 9% complained of menus being limited or inconsistent.

Food Delivery Complaints from Deliverers

Food Deliverers express frustration with expectations to do lots of work, very quickly, for what is often not enough pay.

  • Complaints were significantly higher from deliverers, 60% of whom were “consistently irritated” by receiving weak or no tips.
  • More than half (52%) were consistently irritated by restaurants not having food ready on time.
  • 39% of deliverers complained of instructions from the customer within the app not being clear.
  • More than a third (37%) of deliverers complained about customers not answering their phone.
  • Approximately a third (34%) of deliverers were consistently irritated by customers messaging them with complaints or questions.
  • 1 in 3 (33%) of deliverers also complained about having to wait a long time for customers to meet them to hand off the food.
  • Even having to walk up many stairs or use elevators was a consistent irritation for 21% of food deliverers.

Also check out these Uber Eats Statistics.

References:

  1. US Foods Food Delivery Service Study
  2. Hotel Tech Report
  3. Statista, Online Restaurant Delivery Services in the U.S.
  4. Gloria Food
  5. Software Advice, Online Food Ordering Software
  6. Zion and Zion, Food Delivery App Research
  7. Food Delivery News
  8. Lavu
  9. Deloitte
  10. Frost and Sullivan

 

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