As Just Eat celebrates its 20th anniversary in the UK and reaches the new milestone of 2 billion orders on the platform, new research shows that Britain’s independent takeaways are not only a staple of Friday nights and family celebrations, but a £28 billion engine of economic activity supporting almost 900,000 jobs across independent takeaways nationwide.
The new research by Development Economics, commissioned by Just Eat, finds that independent takeaway businesses generate £28 billion in annual Gross Value Added (GVA) for the UK economy, supporting over 897,000 jobs nationwide.
To celebrate its 20th birthday, Just Eat’s longest-standing ‘Takeaway OGs’ will receive iconic orange plaques celebrating their longevity on the platform and the important role they play within their local communities . The initial partners receiving plaques are Verona Pizza in South West London, Balti Club in Glasgow and Pizza House Company in Leeds.
Claire Pointon, UK and Ireland managing director at Just Eat, said: “Twenty years ago, Just Eat launched in the UK to help local restaurants reach more customers. A lot has changed in that time – food tastes have gotten more diverse, and we now have over 100,000 choices available in the UK – but independent takeaways remain the beating heart of our platform and a force for good on our high streets.
“Looking ahead, expect even more choice on our platform and even more investment in world-beating technology that makes life easier for customers and partners. Whether it’s AI voice ordering or trials of delivery robots, Just Eat is committed to investing in UK high streets and being a business Britain can rely on.”
Love of local
Beyond economic impact, Brits have a special affinity for independent takeaways, according to a study of 2,000 UK adults conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Just Eat. Key findings include:
- Brits love local: Nearly half (46.46%) of us prioritise ordering from independent local takeaways, and one in five (19.51%) of us orders from a local independent at least once a week.
- We’re willing to pay more and wait longer to support local takeaways: More than six in ten people (62.4%) say they would be willing to pay slightly more or wait slightly longer for delivery to order from an independent takeaway, and more than half (54.97%) are willing to pay up to 10 per cent extra to support locals.
- Independents are essential to the high street: Six in ten (61.4%) agree that independent takeaways play an important role in the character of their local high street, and a similar number (64.3%) say high streets would be worse off without independent food businesses. Nearly three quarters (72.54%) would be concerned if independent takeaways disappeared from their area.
- Younger customers are driving momentum: More than half (51.35%)of 25 to 34 year olds say they are ordering from independent takeaways more often than two years ago.
