App Appetite: Food Delivery Apps Gain Popularity Among Consumers

Food delivery apps are becoming increasingly popular, offering convenience, variety, and quick access to meals, reshaping how consumers dine and order food.

Around two-thirds of U.S. consumers have used food-ordering apps for takeout or delivery, according to the September 2024 Consumer Food Insights Report from Purdue University’s Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS). The report, based on a survey of 1,200 consumers, reveals that over half of users have ordered delivery via app, with nearly half using the apps weekly (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Consumer Food Insights Report highlights increasing use of food-ordering apps

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Discounts Drive Online Food Orders

Led by Joseph Balagtas, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue, the report explores food spending, consumer satisfaction, and preferences. According to the findings, 68% of consumers “sometimes,” “often,” or “always” use discounts or promo codes when ordering online. Those who spend the least on food use discounts the most.

From full-service restaurants, app-based delivery spending climbed to a fourfold increase. The research also examined tipping habits, revealed that most consumers tip between 10% and 19%, though 14% reported not tipping at all.

Consumers continue prioritizing safety, taste, nutrition, and budget over environmental and social sustainability. Spending on food has risen 15% since early 2022, with inflation driving adjustments in consumer budgets. Despite higher food prices, food insecurity remains unchanged at 13%, with lower-income households relying more on food banks.

The report highlights how food behavior varies across income levels, with “thrifty” spenders opting for generic brands and plant-based proteins more frequently. The CFDAS continues to track these trends to provide insights for improving the food system.

Reference:

1. Consumer Food Insights Report highlights increasing use of food-ordering apps – (https://ag.purdue.edu/news/2024/10/consumer-food-insights-report-highlights-increasing-use-of-food-ordering-apps.html)

Source-Medindia