Online Food Delivery

The projected revenue in the Online Food Delivery market in China is expected to reach US$450.50bn in 2024.
It is anticipated that the market will continue to grow at an annual growth rate of 8.43% (CAGR 2024-2029), resulting in a projected market volume of US$675.20bn by 2029.
In the Grocery Delivery market, a revenue growth of 14.9% is expected in 2025.0.
The market volume is projected to reach US$266.00bn in 2024.
When compared globally, China is expected to generate the highest revenue in the Online Food Delivery market, reaching US$450.50bn in 2024.
The average revenue per user (ARPU) in the Grocery Delivery market is projected to amount to US$504.40 in 2024.
In the Meal Delivery market, the number of users is expected to reach 906.0m users by 2029.
The user penetration in the Meal Delivery market is projected to be at 56.1% in 2024.
China's online food delivery market is booming, with a wide range of platforms offering diverse cuisine options to cater to the country's vast and diverse population.

Definition:

Online Food Delivery refers to the intersection of ordering groceries and prepared meals online. Orders are typically placed through an app or website and delivery times vary.

Structure:

The Online Food Delivery market contains the user and revenue development of two different delivery service solutions: (1) Meal Delivery and (2) Grocery Delivery. Included are services that deliver prepared meals and food ordered online for direct consumption (Meal Delivery) and non-prepared food and beverage products, household, and personal care products (Grocery Delivery). Meal delivery includes the delivery of meals carried out directly by restaurants (Restaurant Delivery) and online delivery services that provide customers with meals from partner restaurants that do not necessarily have to offer food delivery themselves (Platform Delivery). Grocery Delivery consists of fresh, nonprepared products delivered from supermarkets or retailers where delivery is scheduled (Retail Delivery), Delivery that is under 3 hours and operates dark stores or own warehouses (Quick Commerce), and prepared fresh ingredients to be prepared at home, typically offered through a subscription service (Meal Kit Delivery).

Additional Information:

Revenue figures are the gross merchandise value (GMV), defined as the total sales dollar value for merchandise/food sold through the Online Food Delivery marketplace. User and revenue figures represent B2C services.

Meals and groceries ordered online that are directly delivered by the restaurant, retailer, or platform no matter if ordered via a platform (e.g. Delivery Hero, Instacart) or a restaurant/retailer website (e.g. Domino's, Walmart.com)
Online meal and grocery order and delivery both carried out by a platform (e.g. Deliveroo, Grab, Flink)

Phone orders
Click & collect Grocery orders
Ready-to-eat meals

The Online Food Delivery market in China has been rapidly growing in recent years, with a significant increase in demand for food delivery services.

Customer preferences: One of the main drivers of the Online Food Delivery market in China is the convenience it offers to customers. With busy work schedules and long commuting times, many consumers in China prefer to order food online rather than cook at home or dine out. In addition, the wide variety of food options available on delivery platforms allows customers to try new cuisines and restaurants without leaving their homes.

Trends in the market: The Online Food Delivery market in China has seen several trends in recent years. One trend is the increasing popularity of on-demand delivery services, which allow customers to receive their orders within a shorter time frame. Another trend is the rise of healthy food options, with many delivery platforms offering low-calorie and organic food choices. Finally, there has been a shift towards more sustainable packaging and delivery methods, with some companies experimenting with biodegradable packaging and electric delivery vehicles.

Local special circumstances: China's large population and densely populated cities have contributed to the growth of the Online Food Delivery market. In addition, the prevalence of mobile payment systems in China has made it easier for customers to order and pay for food online. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the growth of the online food delivery market, as many consumers are choosing to stay at home and order food rather than risk exposure to the virus by dining out.

Underlying macroeconomic factors: China's growing middle class and rising disposable incomes have also contributed to the growth of the Online Food Delivery market. In addition, the government's supportive policies towards the development of the digital economy have created a favorable environment for online food delivery platforms. Finally, the increasing urbanization of China's population has led to a greater demand for convenient and efficient food delivery services.

Data coverage:

The data encompasses B2C enterprises. Figures are based on Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and represent what consumers pay for these products and services. The user metrics show the number of customers who have made at least one online purchase within the past 12 months.

Modeling approach / Market size:

Market sizes are determined through a bottom-up approach, building on predefined factors for each market. As a basis for evaluating markets, we use annual financial reports of the market-leading companies, third-party studies and reports, as well as survey results from our primary research (e.g., the Statista Global Consumer Survey). In addition, we use relevant key market indicators and data from country-specific associations, such as GDP, GDP per capita, and internet connection speed. This data helps us estimate the market size for each country individually.

Forecasts:

In our forecasts, we apply diverse forecasting techniques. The selection of forecasting techniques is based on the behavior of the relevant market. For example, the S-curve function and exponential trend smoothing. The main drivers are internet users, urban population, usage of key players, and attitudes toward online services.

Additional notes:

The market is updated twice a year in case market dynamics change. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war are considered at a country-specific level. GCS data is reweighted for representativeness.

This report presents a comprehensive analysis and additional information on the Ecommerce market, in a PDF format.