October 29, 2016
The majority of Americans who get food delivered to them find that it's more convenient to order takeout than it is to dine with their loved ones, according to one recent report.
Mintel, a market research firm, conducted the study detailing the nation's use of food delivery over the summer after seeing third-party delivery services, like PostMates, Grubhub or UberEats, take off.
The study found that 63 percent of users found that it's much more convenient to order takeout than it is to dine out with family. Fifty-six percent of people also said that the No. 1 reason why they order food delivery is so that they don't have to leave their houses, according to Mintel, who conducted the survey over a three-month period ending in June.
In addition, more than one-third of people surveyed in the study who said they use the third-party services said that they ordered from them at least two times a week.
And who's using the services the most? Millennial men in cities, according to the study.
“Older consumers tend to dine out less frequently than other age groups," said Caleb Bryant, a foodservice analyst at the firm, in a statement. "As such, these consumers may view going out to eat as a more special occasion, not as something to just have at home, while younger consumers tend to be very open to at least trying restaurant delivery services."
Mintel found that 53 percent of people who've never used the third party deliver services older than 55 said nothing could convince them to use one of the sites or apps.
Though, the survey found that while convenience was the ultimate factor for deciding to order in, most Americans prefer getting the whole dining out experience.
Sixty-five percent of those who used delivery services said it's better to go to a restaurant.
“Restaurant delivery is a hot market right now with many companies vying for the top spots," Bryant said. "While usage today is low, it is important to note that the third-party delivery industry is still relatively new and low usage is to be expected, but it presents opportunity for growth."
