At-home restaurant sales flatline in March

At-home sales for the top managed restaurant groups were “virtually flat” year-on-year in March, according to CGA by NIQ’s latest Hospitality at Home Tracker.

During the last month, like-for-like sales of deliveries and takeaways were just 0.8% ahead of March 2023.  

According to CGA, this was a 10th consecutive month of year-on-year growth, but down on the figures of 4% and 3% in January and February 2024, respectively. 

However, the rate is also well below the separate CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker, which reported like-for-like sales growth of 5.2% for managed restaurant, pub and bar groups in March.

Meanwhile, delivery sales continue to rise at the expense of takeaways, having seen like-for-like growth of 5% last month, while the value of takeaway and click-and-collect orders dropped by 3%. 

Deliveries accounted for 11% in every pound spent with restaurant groups in March.

Karl Chessell, director at CGA, said: “The softening of at-home sales in March partly reflects moves by some consumers to eat in restaurants more often as pressure on their spending eases. 

“With the Easter weekend falling in March this year, it may also indicate that people still prefer to enjoy food and drink on special occasions with others rather than at home.” 

He added: “While we can be cautiously confident that general spending in hospitality will rise as we move towards summer, operators will have to work very hard to achieve sustained growth in both their at-home and eat-in channels.”