How Food Delivery Service Apps Are Changing the North East

Ordering dinner has never been easier. Whether it is a curry in Heaton, pizza in Jesmond or burgers in Newcastle city centre, a few taps on a smartphone can bring almost any meal to the front door within the hour.

Food delivery apps such as Deliveroo, Just Eat and Uber Eats have transformed the hospitality industry over the past decade, giving restaurants access to thousands of potential customers. Yet behind the convenience lies a growing debate over whether these platforms are helping independent businesses grow or quietly eating into already slim profit margins.

For many restaurants across Newcastle and the wider North East, the answer is far from straightforward. Delivery apps have undoubtedly created new opportunities, but they have also introduced new financial pressures at a time when the hospitality sector is already facing rising costs.

More Customers Are Ordering Online.

The popularity of food delivery services continues to grow across the UK.

According to the Food Standards Agency's latest Food and You survey, 55 percent of adults have ordered food through online delivery platforms such as Just Eat, Deliveroo or Uber Eats, while 60 percent have ordered directly from restaurant or takeaway websites.

Digital ordering has become part of everyday life for many households, particularly among younger customers and busy families looking for convenience.

Research from Ipsos also found Uber Eats reached a record 11.2 million UK app users during August 2025, while Just Eat attracted 7.9 million users and Deliveroo 5.8 million, highlighting the huge audiences available to restaurants that join these platforms.

For Newcastle restaurants, those figures represent potential customers who may never have discovered their business otherwise.

Greater Reach Comes At A Cost.

While delivery apps can dramatically increase visibility, restaurant owners often point to commission fees as one of the biggest challenges.

Depending on the platform and service agreement, commissions can typically range between 15 percent and 35 percent of an order's value before delivery charges and promotional costs are considered.

For businesses already managing higher food prices, wage increases and energy bills, those deductions can significantly reduce profits.

Many independent operators therefore face a difficult decision. Joining a delivery platform may increase sales volumes, but each individual order can generate less income than customers dining inside the restaurant or ordering directly.

Some Newcastle businesses have responded by encouraging repeat customers to order through their own websites after discovering them on delivery apps, helping retain more revenue while still benefiting from the exposure.

Restaurants Are Becoming More Strategic.

Rather than viewing delivery apps as either entirely good or bad, many North East operators are now treating them as one part of a broader business strategy.

Some only accept deliveries during quieter periods when kitchen capacity allows. Others create delivery-only menus featuring dishes that travel well and remain profitable after commission fees.

Many restaurants also use collection discounts to encourage customers to order directly instead of using third-party platforms.

This balanced approach allows businesses to benefit from additional orders without becoming overly dependent on delivery companies.

Consumer Habits Continue To Change.

Changing lifestyles are also influencing how people use restaurants.

Research published by Lumina Intelligence earlier this year found fewer people are eating out overall, but those who do are spending more per visit and increasingly treating restaurant meals as special occasions rather than everyday purchases.

That shift has made takeaway and delivery services more important for many businesses looking to generate revenue throughout quieter weekdays.

At the same time, some customers who previously dined in now choose home delivery instead, creating concerns that restaurants could simply be replacing higher-margin table service with lower-margin app orders.

Independent Businesses Face Tough Competition.

Large national restaurant chains often have dedicated marketing teams and stronger purchasing power, allowing them to absorb delivery commissions more easily.

Independent restaurants across Newcastle rarely enjoy those advantages.

Many family-run businesses must carefully monitor pricing, portion sizes and operating costs to remain competitive while maintaining food quality.

Despite those challenges, delivery platforms continue to generate enormous economic activity.

Research released by Just Eat estimated independent takeaways contribute around £28 billion to the UK economy and support almost 900,000 jobs, underlining the importance of the sector despite increasing competition.

The Customer Experience Still Matters Most.

Even with the rapid growth of delivery apps, restaurant owners continue to believe the overall dining experience remains their greatest strength.

Customers visiting Newcastle's restaurants enjoy freshly prepared food, personal service and the atmosphere that cannot be replicated through a takeaway bag.

Many businesses therefore see delivery apps as an additional revenue stream rather than a replacement for traditional hospitality.

Special events, seasonal menus and locally sourced ingredients continue to attract diners looking for experiences rather than simple convenience.

Finding The Right Balance.

The debate over food delivery apps is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

For some Newcastle restaurants, they have opened the door to thousands of new customers and created valuable additional income. For others, commission fees and increasing competition mean the benefits are less clear.

Most businesses now accept that online delivery is part of modern hospitality, but success increasingly depends on using these platforms carefully rather than relying on them completely.

As customer habits continue to evolve, Newcastle's independent restaurants appear determined to combine technology with traditional hospitality, ensuring they remain competitive while protecting the quality and identity that make the city's food scene one of the strongest in the North East.

Share your views.

Do you prefer eating out or ordering through delivery apps in Newcastle?