It is a practice that has experienced a boom thanks to the Covid and confinements, and which is unquestionably becoming one of the habits of the French, in certain categories more than others... The delivery of meals at home is today now a habit shared by a quarter of the population, according to a survey published this week by the Cetelem Observatory and carried out by Harris Interactive*.
26% of respondents specifically say they have meals delivered to their home (from a restaurant or via a dedicated service such as UberEats or Deliveroo) “
at least a few times a month
”.
The young and Parisian, or at least metropolitan, image of this practice is not overused.
Nearly one out of two young people aged 18-24 (48%) is a fan, compared to 14% of 50-64 year olds and 5% of those aged 65 and over.
Parisians are also over-represented among the customers of this type of offer: 41% are fond of it in the Paris conurbation.
They are 31% in large cities, but only 19% in small and medium-sized cities and 15% in rural areas.
In the latter, the problem of accessibility arises, since 18% of respondents living in the countryside say they do not have access to this type of service near their homes.
Read alsoThe “white zone”, new weapon for mayors against the nuisance of home delivery
56% can't live without it
Proof that home delivery of meals has become commonplace, it has not suffered in any way from the period of inflation in which France has been immersed for several months.
However, this type of meal is perceived as "
expensive
" by 89% of respondents (93% for restaurant meals, and only 26% for fully home-cooked meals).
The respondents are even 44% to estimate to use it more today than a few months ago (against 29% less).
More than one out of two French people (56%) admits that they can no longer do without it.
Meal deliveries thus become an expense item in their own right in the household budget.
Those who are followers say they put an average of 83 euros per month.
A figure that rises to 121 euros among French people with high incomes.
This practice is thus asserting itself as a real competitor to restaurant meals.
Nearly six out of ten French people (59%) admit spending more money on these delivery services than on dining out.
On weekday evenings, more than one in two French people (53%) say they favor this solution - compared to 73% who prefer a restaurant on weekend evenings.
But delivery still has a long way to go to dethrone restaurant outlets in the hearts of the French.
If a quarter of French people use delivery, they are still 47% to go to the restaurant “
at least a few times a month
”.
*
Survey conducted by Harris Interactive online from March 10 to 14, 2023, on a sample of 1035 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over.
Quota method and adjustment applied to the following variables: sex, age, socio-professional category and region of the interviewee.
