Survey: Takeout orders rise for multiple reasons

Consumers are ordering more takeout meals from restaurants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On-demand delivery/pickup platform DoorDash surveyed nearly 1,000 of its customers about their motivations for choosing takeout orders. More than half of respondents (56%) said the amount they ordered takeout has increased amidst the pandemic as they support their local businesses during COVID-19.

However, supporting local business is not the only motivating factor for ordering takeout during the pandemic. One in five parent respondents said they are choosing takeout as an opportunity to go for a drive or get some alone time. More than four in 10 (44%) respondents said ordering takeout is a way to save both time and money (i.e., avoiding delivery fees with order pickup).

Respondents ages 35–54 were the largest pickup adopters, ordering takeout multiple times a week in both March and April. More than eight in 10 respondents (82%), said they take their food home to eat after picking up their order at the restaurant.

DoorDash is also releasing a new pickup feature that lets customers share their mobile location data with restaurants. If customers opt in to share their location data when the DoorDash app is running, restaurants will be alerted when the customer is approaching the store so they can have their order ready upon arrival. Customers can toggle to the pickup button at the top of the app.