Britain’s top restaurant groups ended a soft year for at-home sales with fractional growth in December—but increased use of delivery services powered near double-digit increase on a total basis.
The latest NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker, powered by CGA intelligence, reveals groups’ like-for-like sales last month were just 0.3% ahead of December 2024. It was flat at 0.0% in November, as some consumers tightened their spending in the run-up to Christmas. Across 2025, at-home sales growth rose above the UK’s rate of inflation in only two of the 12 months.
The Tracker’s data indicates a steady shift in consumers’ preferences from takeaways to the convenience of deliveries throughout 2025. Delivery sales in December rose 4.1% on a like-for-like basis, while the value of takeaway and click-and-collect orders dropped by 8.4%—the third worst figure of the year.
The migration means direct-to-door sales are now more than double those of takeaways. Deliveries were worth 11.5 pence in every pound spent with restaurants in December, while takeaways and click-and-collect orders generated 4.9 pence.
The NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker reveals significantly stronger growth on a total basis. Adding in newly-opened restaurants, or sites where deliveries and takeaways have been introduced for the first time, December’s sales were 9.5% ahead of the same month in 2024.
Karl Chessell, director – hospitality operators and food, EMEA at NIQ, said:
“December’s figures round out a challenging year for restaurants in both eat-in and at-home channels. Total sales growth paints a much brighter picture, and shows restaurants are continuing to invest in their delivery capabilities. However, any extension of at-home services comes with the risk of squeezing dine-in sales and the need to protect tight margins. Managing costs, the quality of food and relationships with third-party delivery platforms will be three top priorities for restaurant groups as they seek to revive real-terms growth in 2026.”
The NIQ Hospitality at Home Tracker is the leading source of data and insight for the delivery and takeaway market. It provides monthly reports on the value and volume of sales, with year-on-year comparisons and splits between food and drink revenue. It offers a benchmark by which brands can measure their performance, and participants receive detailed data in return for their contributions.
Partners on the Tracker: Azzurri Group, Big Table Group, Bills, Bleecker St Burger, Byron, Coco Di Mama, Cote, Creams Café, Dishoom, Five Guys, Gaucho Grill, Honest Burgers, Hop Vietnamese, Megan’s, Mission Mars, Mitchell & Butlers, Mowgli, Nando’s, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut UK, Popeyes, Prezzo, Rosa’s Thai, Tasty Plc, TGI Fridays UK, Tortilla, Tossed, Wagamama, Wasabi, Wingstop, YO! Sushi and Yolk.
Anyone interested in joining the Tracker should contact Karen Bantoft at karen.bantoft@nielseniq.com.
