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.
In London alone, the new research by Development Economics, commissioned by Just Eat, finds that independent takeaway businesses of the city generate £3,453 million in annual Gross Value Added (GVA) for the economy, supporting almost 140,000 (139,500) jobs across the city. Compared to other UK cities, London’s takeaway sector generates the most jobs, alongside Glasgow and Manchester.
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 first partner being honoured in London is Verona Pizza, located at the end of the Northern line in Morden, which is a firm favourite with locals.
Mr Hassan, Owner of Verona Pizza in Morden, said:
“It’s a privilege for Verona Pizza to be recognised by Just Eat to mark this significant milestone. Being a part of the platform for 20 years has been an incredible journey and one we are grateful for. The industry has evolved significantly in that time and Just Eat has played a big role in helping us keep up with the times and reach new customers, while staying true to what matters most to our business; great food and serving our community. We’re proud to be one of the original partners on the platform and our orange plaque will certainly take pride of place in the restaurant as we look forward to the next decade!”
Love of local
Beyond economic impact, Londoner’s have a special affinity for independent takeaways, according to a study of 432 UK adults in London, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Just Eat. Key findings include:
Londoners love local: Nearly half (41%) of respondents prioritise ordering from independent local takeaways, and a quarter (25%) 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 (64%) 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 (52%) are willing to pay up to 5-9 per cent extra to support locals.
Independents are essential to the high street: More than six in ten (64%) London respondents agree that independent takeaways play an important role in the character of their local high street, and 64% say high streets would be worse off without independent food businesses. Three quarters (75%) would be concerned if independent takeaways disappeared from their area.
Locals celebrate with indies: Half of respondents (53%) say they feel loyal to independent restaurants on their high streets, and that independent takeaways have been a part of celebrations with their families (48%).
Leigh Phillipson, commercial director at Just Eat, said: “Twenty years ago, Just Eat launched in the UK to help local restaurants reach more customers. Over the last two decades, we’ve gone from businesses taking orders via fax and phone, to voice ordering and delivery robots – talk about an evolution! The shift in the sector has also grown to meet demands of our expanding tastes – but one thing has remained true for our capital city – independent restaurants are still the beating heart of our platform and a force for good on high streets.”
“Across the UK, we now have over 100,000 choices available in the UK, and looking to the next decade, we expect even more choice on our platform and even more investment in world-beating technology that makes life easier for customers and partners. It’s an exciting time for us.”
