Consumers are increasingly interested in takeout and delivery, but coronavirus fears are making them wary of dining in, according to survey results released Thursday by consulting firm AlixPartners.
More than a quarter (26%) of the more than 1,000 consumers surveyed recently said they will be cutting back on dining out, up from 20% of those polled in April.
Even if they’re not wanting to eat inside of restaurants, consumers are still relying heavily on takeout and delivery. Some 80% of consumers reported ordering meals for off-premise consumption, up from 69% in the April survey.
In fact, takeout and delivery orders were placed at least once a week by 57% of consumers polled, with a strong preference for fast food and pizza.
Pick-up, rather than delivery, became a more popular choice in the recent survey, compared to the one from several months ago. Just 16% of those surveyed cited third-party delivery providers as their preferred option for receiving their food.
A fear of getting infected with the coronavirus was cited by 60% of those polled as the reason for their reduction in on-premise restaurant visits.
Safety measures, including outdoor seating, disposable menus and mask mandates, did show some promise in encouraging diners to visit restaurants, according to the survey. Mandated mask-wearing was cited by 36% of those surveyed as something that would increase their restaurant visits.
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