Makeaway market to stay robust post lockdown, Barclaycard data shows

The figures from the payment service, which processes nearly £1 in every £3 spent in the UK, also show that 9% of people have spent more money on DIY meal kits since March 2020, when the first UK lockdown was announced.

The market for meal kits is likely to be robust beyond the lifting of lockdown, according to Barclaycard, with just under a quarter (24%) of those who have been ordering them expected to continue doing so even after hospitality venues reopen in May.

Just over 20% of people will also still order at-home alcoholic drinks tasting experiences. This indicates that dine-at-home and drink-at-home experiences could still be valuable sources of revenue even after they’ve reopened their doors, says Barclaycard.

Its research, conducted to mark a year after the UK went into the first lockdown, also shows a preference by customers for local and independent businesses, with almost two thirds (64%) of Brits choosing to shop closer to home.

Shoppers spent an extra 63.3% in February 2021 specialist at food and drink shops, such as butchers, bakeries and greengrocers, compared with the same month last year. Shopping locally is set to be a lockdown legacy, with 91% of Brits who have been shopping locally throughout the pandemic saying they will keep doing this to support smaller and independent businesses even after all restrictions end.

The way people purchase items has also changed as a result of the pandemic, with mobile payments having grown substantially in the past year.

Barclays consumer debit data reveals that Apple Pay grew faster in 2020 compared to 2019, in particular in leisure and entertainment, including pubs and restaurants, where online debit transactions increased by 70%.

The research found that 30% of consumers and 55% of 25-34-year olds now regularly leave their wallet or purse behind because all they need is their mobile phone and their ‘digital wallet’.