Ordering-in is superseding take-away options as more young Australians use meal delivery apps to satisfy their hunger, new research has found.
Strategic Insights Consultancy, Nature, surveyed 1000 people between 28 September and 4 October this year to gauge their relationships with meal delivery services, particularly following extensive lockdowns.
52 per cent of people used a meal delivery app this year, up from 40 per cent in 2019, with 33 per cent admitting to using these apps at least once a month.
68 per cent of respondents said they tend to favour less-healthier options when using meal delivery apps.
Unsurprisingly, 71 per cent of app-users were under 40 years-of-age, with Uber Eats being their dominant platform of choice.
Nature’s managing partner, Chris Crook said the pandemic and subsequent restrictions played a “big part” in the uptake of meal delivery apps.
“Our research has uncovered the widespread popularity of meal delivery apps, with over half of Australians having tried at least one, and highlighted the growing popularity of these apps among younger Aussies – who love them for the convenience and ability to trial new restaurants, despite price,” he said.
“We couldn’t have predicted just how entrenched they would become in our lives and culture.”
Nature’s associate director in Melbourne, Chris Mason, said while Uber Eats dominated the market, users are now switching between multiple meal delivery apps to find the best deals and restaurants.
“There is now more to meal delivery apps than just restaurants, with grocery and alcohol services starting to gain traction as well as ‘fringe’ convenience services like Providoor,” he said.
“At the moment, the meal delivery channel is largely untapped by FMCG brands. There is a clear opportunity for both consumer brands and retailers to leverage these apps as an additional channel, building on the reach of in-store touchpoints and online grocery shopping.”
Other findings include 45 per cent of respondents deeming meal delivery apps too expensive, while only 8 per cent said poor treatment of delivery drivers barred them from signing up to an app.
