More than 100,000 orders for Chinese takeaways on Christmas Day have signalled a new customer trend during the peak season.
Just Eat experienced a dramatic surge in demand over the festive period, processing around 145,000 orders on Christmas Day alone as shoppers turned to last-minute grocery deliveries to rescue their holiday plans. Panic-buying staples such as turkey accounted for roughly 40 percent of all orders placed that day.
The Christmas rush contributed to an especially busy December for the online delivery platform, which handled more than 17 million orders throughout the month. Growth was driven largely by increased demand for groceries and Chinese takeaway meals, reflecting shifting consumer habits during the holidays.
Festive food trends were clear in the data. Sales of pigs in blankets rose steadily in the weeks leading up to Christmas, reaching 13,000 packs sold, while searches for turkey peaked on December 23 and 24 as shoppers scrambled to complete their menus.
“December is a fast-paced month where routines shift and convenience really comes into its own,” said Leigh Phillipson, commercial director at Just Eat UK. “We see customers leaning into familiar comfort foods and last-minute treats as they celebrate with friends and family.”
New Year’s Eve also delivered strong results, with orders for prosecco and champagne jumping 300 percent. More than 4,500 orders were placed in the final hour of 2025 alone. On New Year’s Day, consumer behaviour shifted sharply, with sales of coconut water and sports drinks rising 132 percent as customers focused on recovery and healthier choices.
“It was clear that customers quickly pivoted to wellness on January 1, aiming to start the year on the right foot and embrace health-led trends that will continue into 2026,” Phillipson said.
Chinese takeaway proved particularly popular, with orders doubling on both December 24 and 31 and more than 350,000 searches recorded for the cuisine across the month.
Globally, Just Eat Takeaway processed 653 million orders in 2024. The company also marked a leadership transition in December, with founder Jitse Groen stepping down after 25 years and Roberto Gandolfo taking over as chief executive at the start of the year.
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