Aussies prioritise takeaway budget

AUSTRALIANS are buying takeaway food up to three times a week, despite cost of living pressures.

New research has found Aussie consumers have turned to takeaway more since national inflation rises. And we are eating more takeaway than people in the US, UK and France.

The research, commissioned by global online food company Deliverect, found that 60.47 per cent of Australian consumers were purchasing up to three takeaways in a week. That was above the international average of 57.34 per cent.

The number of Aussies ordering takeaway prior to the inflation increase was 55.54 per cent. The survey found that while people were giving more thought to how they spent and saved their money, they were more likely to cut back on other activities.

More than half (52 per cent) said they would stop buying clothes or going out for drinks and dinner (56 per cent) while 45 per cent would give up travelling rather than phoning for a pizza or reaching for their phone to order Uber Eats.

Deliverect chief executive and founder Zhong Xu said people were “undoubtedly’’ becoming more conscious of how they spent their money due to the rise in inflation and cost of living.

“The research findings may be surprising to some, but evidently people are continuing to prioritise and enjoy the convenience of takeaway and food delivery,’’ he said.

Almost one-third of people found ordering food from a restaurant via apps such as Deliveroo, Uber Eats and DoorDash were most reliable but 38 per cent preferred ordering directly from the restaurant.

Just over 18 per cent of people preferred to pick up takeaway directly from a restaurant.

About 7000 people, including 1019 Australians, were surveyed to identify their eating preferences.