1 in 5 Kiwis will order in takeaways for the big game

Friday, 17 August 2018, 4:27 pm
Press Release: Alastair Thompson

1 in 5 Kiwis will order in takeaways for the big game

17 August 2018 - Watching a big game - like this weekend’s Trans-Tasman clash - is all the excuse Kiwis need to order in takeaways, according to new findings.

The Growing App-etite Report from Menulog, New Zealand’s first online food delivery service, found 24% of all Kiwis have takeaways delivered when they watch sport matches.*

The most popular cuisines to dig into pre kick-off were Indian and pizza, followed by Thai with Pad Thai being a popular choice due to its shareability.

Butter chicken was perhaps unsurprisingly the most popular Indian dish followed by Chicken Tikka Masala and Chicken Korma, with Mango Chicken and Malai Kofta also breaking into the top five.

Of the Indian dishes almost 60% of Kiwis like their curry medium or mild with the rest being a little more daring going for hot or extra hot.

“The staples are still definitely Indian and pizza, but with an increasing number of specialist burger outlets emerging, they are becoming a major force in the home delivery market,” says Menulog NZ Manager Paul Dodds.

He says for this weekend’s clash between New Zealand and Australia, Menulog is expecting a surge in orders similar to the British and Irish Lions tour last year.

“We saw orders increase by a quarter on the night of the second Lions test, which is up there with some of our biggest nights of the year.

“Watching sport is a tradition for many Kiwis and Menulog provides a huge variety of cuisine for when family and friends are over for the big game.”

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The Growing App-etite Report is the first of its kind analysing New Zealand’s online delivery industry and brings together results from an independent survey conducted by YouGov Galaxy Research and data and insights from Menulog, which has 900 restaurants on its platform locally.

The report found 1.2 million Kiwis - around a quarter of the population - are already ordering takeaway food for delivery.*

While ordering in food to watch sport was popular, the top reason for having takeaways delivered was to watch a movie / TV (73%), with just over a third watching a streaming service, and 14% of people say they order food for a romantic night in.*

“Almost half of Kiwis said they order in takeaways when they are spending quality time with family or friends which shows how food is an essential part of any social occasion. It plays a major role in bringing us together, be it for everything from a birthday celebration to watching the rugby.

“Any clash between New Zealand and Australia is a reason for Kiwis to get their mates together - it’s a great chance to make a night of it starting with dinner from your favourite local before the game starts,” says Dodds.

* YouGov Galaxy research, prepared for Menulog May 2018

-ENDS-

About Menulog

Menulog offers the greatest choice for Kiwis when it comes to online food delivery. Menulog connects more than 150,000 customers with over 900 local restaurants via menulog.co.nz and Menulog mobile apps. Menulog offers countless cuisines to have delivered straight to your door. Menulog is part of the Just Eat group, global leader in food delivery.

Alastair Thompson

Scoop Publisher

Alastair Thompson is the co-founder of Scoop. He is of Scottish and Irish extraction and from Wellington, New Zealand. Alastair has 24 years experience in the media, at the Dominion, National Business Review, North & South magazine, Straight Furrow newspaper and online since 1997. He is the winner of several journalism awards for business and investigative work.