As we progress further and further into the digital age, the idea of phoning up a chip shop or Indian restaurant to place your order becomes increasingly alien. There are always pros and cons to new inventions and developments, but ordering food online is one of the better changes we have had in the last few years, offering more and more options for those who want more from their food.
For years, the classic British takeaway has been a curry, or fish and chips. For anything more than that, we tend to go to a restaurant and make a night of it, but the introduction of websites that offer the delivery of food from non-takeaway restaurants has completely changed this. Now, if you want Italian food or American-style burgers, you can have them in the comfort of your own home. This has also changed the way we view meals, with many saying that it is ruining ‘family meals’. Studies show that around 40% of British families only sit down together to have a meal together three times a week, and that is often put down to a decrease in ‘home-cooking’.
However, there is no doubt that food-delivery services have diversified the takeaway game, and not just by having a single vegetarian option. By having multiple restaurants on one site, it allows for smaller businesses to be available to a wider audience, which means, an increase in ‘niche’ cuisines. Whether it be gluten-free, vegan, non-dairy and even if you’re looking for halal restaurants, they are available for your night-in. The front-runner in this business is deliveroo.co.uk, who have created 7200 jobs in the restaurant sector since they first launched in 2013. With hundreds of options, there is something for everyone- there are no longer arguments about which restaurant to go to, with one person not eating meat, one person only able to eat certain types of meat, and another who is lactose-intolerant. The website has become extremely successful over the last few years, especially with younger people, who now turn to the service for their night in – although there are complaints that this has ruined business for local shops, who don’t offer the service.
