Deliveroo orders double as customers stuck with lockdown takeaway habits

Even when restaurants reopened after the road closures, diner attendants just kept on snacking at home, says the Deliveroo head of restaurant culture.

The company, which connects customers to more than 136.000 restaurants and 9.000 grocery stores in the UK and 11 other countries including Ireland, told Deliveroo that the value of orders its platform increased more than doubled in the first half, with no significant impact on the number of restaurants further reopening in its largest market - the UK - in the second quarter.

Management's outlook for the remainder of the year was "optimistic but prudent" pessimistic, and expected steady year-on-year growth on average order levels to return to pre-Pandemic levels.

Sales soared 82 per cent to £922.5million, while food delivery service delivery said in its first results since its IPO.

Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortising (EBITDA) was £27m, compared with a loss of £30.3m for the same period in 2020 as the higher gross profit was offset largely by higher capital spending to support future growth.

Pre-tax statutory losses were £104.8m, despite an earlier fall of £128.4m in the same period last year.

Deliveroo now has most grocers in Britain by all delivery platforms as well.

Shu said on Wednesday:"An increasing number of drivers opt to continue working with Deliveroo's because they appreciate the work we offer."