Popular food delivery methods used among consumers Australia 2023

Third-party apps and websites, such as Uber Eats, have become the most popular food delivery method used among Australian consumers, according to an April 2023 survey, with over 55 percent of respondents ordering through these meal delivery platforms. In comparison, just over 30 percent of those surveyed preferred to order directly through the restaurant’s own website or app.

Which platforms dominate Australia’s food delivery market?

Since Deliveroo’s exit from the Australian food delivery scene in 2022, three main competitors remain: Uber Eats, Menulog, and DoorDash. Market leader Uber Eats took first place among Australia’s online food delivery brands by booking numbers in 2024, with Menulog and DoorDash recording around 40 percent of respondents using their platforms during the same period, respectively. According to a 2023 survey of restaurant business decision-makers in the country, the key reasons for collaborating with food delivery services were to reach more customers, drive sales, and remain ahead of competitors. Due to their extensive range of cuisines and special offers, third-party apps enjoy high engagement, with around half of users in Australia reporting purchasing through third-party food delivery apps two to four times a month on average.

Sustainability in Australia’s food delivery landscape

As sustainability moves to the forefront across various industries in Australia, food delivery services are increasingly evaluating their environmental footprints in tandem with mounting consumer calls for a ban on certain plastic products, including takeaway containers and condiment sachets. In cooperation with environmental organization Planet Ark, Uber Eats endeavors to aid its Australian restaurant partners in transitioning towards reusable, recyclable, and compostable food packaging by 2030, supported by around 13 million Australian dollars in funding. Having sustainable takeaway options available to purchase was very or moderately important to over 50 percent of Australian respondents in a 2022 survey; therefore, this transition towards environmentally friendly containers by the food delivery giant is a welcome shift.