That’s according to new analysis released by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), which says delivery apps are creating new opportunities for red meat producers.
The AHDB’s analysis suggests consumers are changing how they purchase takeaways and deliveries, and that red meat sales are growing strongly despite a broader downturn in the market.
Lamb spending through delivery apps, for example, has increased by 36.7% year-on-year, while pork has registered even more encouraging figures, with spending rising 54.7% year-on-year.
The popularity of takeaway burgers, sandwiches and pizzas continues to underpin performance within the category.
These figures reveal a wider trend, says the AHDB, illustrating the resilience of delivery apps amid growing pressures on the wider takeaway and delivery market.
The takeaway and delivery market currently accounts for 26% of all out-of-home spending and was worth £17.7 billion over the past year.
However, the sector has lost £400 million in spend, representing a year-on-year decline of 2.2%, as food inflation continues to impact disposable incomes.
According to the AHDB’s analysis, this reduction has been driven by smaller basket sizes, fewer takeaways overall and some consumers leaving the market altogether.
Rising cost-of-living pressures continue to influence purchasing decisions, with 80% of consumers now “extremely or very concerned” about the cost of living, up 8% on last year, while 72% of takeaway users now view it as a luxury purchase.
Red meat has, however, been able to benefit from the resilience of food delivery apps such as Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, which generated £2.6 billion in takeaway and delivery spending over the past year.
One in five consumers in Great Britain now uses these apps, with spending on the platforms increasing by 0.5% year-on-year, says the AHDB.
Emma Wantling, retail and consumer insight manager at the AHDB, said: “The findings demonstrate the importance of understanding how consumers are adapting their purchasing habits in response to economic pressures and changing expectations around convenience.
“As delivery channels continue to evolve, lamb and pork are well placed to benefit from the growing role of apps in both takeaway and retail purchasing, helping to create new occasions for consumption and support future category growth.”
The analysis also found that customers are increasingly adding grocery items to their takeaway baskets, as younger users make use of delivery apps for a wider range of food-related purchases, including those from retailers.
