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As hospitality businesses contend with rising operating costs and colder months ahead, could one channel in particular provide excellent opportunities for operators? The takeaway is not just holding firm despite economic pressures, but accelerating and offering venues a clear growth path this winter. Despite overall seasonally adjusted retail turnover dipping 0.1% in April 2025 compared to March 2025, according to the latest ABS Retail Trade Report, takeaway food services increased by 2.1%. According to Lightspeed’s State of Hospitality report, meanwhile, takeaway orders grew a striking 34% year-on-year between 2023 and 2024.

This may be more than a short-term trend; it could be a fundamental shift. And as we move into the colder winter months, when some consumers might opt to stay in, there’s a prime opportunity for hospitality businesses to tap into this growing demand.

What’s driving the takeaway boom?

The rapid rise in takeaway orders can be attributed to three key factors: convenience, cost perception, and lasting behavioural shifts resulting from the pandemic.

According to Lightspeed data, Australians now order takeaway and delivery every five days, compared to dining out every nine days. And while inflation and rising costs of living remain top-of-mind for many consumers, they’re still searching for ways to enjoy a quality experience without the full dine-in commitment. Takeaway meets that need, eliminating extras like transportation and tips, while still offering the indulgence of professionally prepared meals in the comfort of their own home.

The rise of hybrid working has also disrupted traditional dining windows and habits. Some customers working from home are far more likely to grab a quick lunch from a local venue or order in midweek. Flexibility, speed and minimal effort offered by venues and delivery services tapping into the takeaway market are now core to how Australians engage with food service.

How to tap into takeaway

What was once a supplementary channel for many venues has now become a core driver of venue growth, particularly outside of the summer peak season. As a result, this is changing how operators think about capacity, staffing and even physical layout. Smaller dining rooms paired with streamlined takeaway kitchens are becoming more viable. Similarly, hybrid models, where dine-in, pickup, and delivery are treated not as competing services but as complementary parts of a unified business strategy, are also prevalent.

Firstly, to fully harness this growing demand, it all starts with maximising efficiency. In today’s fast-paced environment, customers expect takeaway orders to be fulfilled quickly and accurately. That means ensuring kitchen processes are designed for speed and consistency. For many venues, this includes investing in kitchen display systems, streamlined prep areas and purpose-built packaging that maintains food quality. When executed well, this level of attention helps replicate the quality of the dine-in experience at home, which in turn improves customer experience and drives repeat orders.

Menu design also plays a crucial role. Lightspeed found that 98% of the surveyed venues plan to innovate their menus to cater to diverse customer demands. As not all dishes translate well to takeaway, venues could consider curating menus and adapting dishes specifically for this channel. These are often more focused, featuring meals that retain their quality in transit and require minimal handling, while also appealing to group dining scenarios like couples or families. Venus could also consider creating bundled meal deals and special offers, as we know customers continue to search for better value.

The role of technology in hybrid models

Technology is no longer a backend tool; it’s a growth engine. The hospitality venues thriving in 2025 are often those that embrace an integrated tech stack to support dine-in, takeaway, and delivery from a single system. This reduces operational friction and simplifies staff training, all while improving customer experience.

From mobile ordering to click-and-collect and real-time inventory tracking, tech-enabled venues are better positioned to scale their takeaway offering. Features like automated upselling, order tracking, and loyalty program integration all contribute to an improved customer experience and, therefore, retention.

Utilising a unified POS and reporting setup, such as Lightspeed, can also help venues identify which customers return most often, when orders spike, which items drive the highest margins, and more. This insight then enables operators to tailor promotions, fine-tune menus and automate re-engagement campaigns through loyalty platforms and email marketing. Rather than relying on guesswork, venues can take a more personalised and proactive approach to customer retention—one that builds sustained, long-term revenue over time.

As customer habits continue to evolve, takeaways are proving themselves not just as a reliable revenue stream but also as a significant opportunity for innovation and growth. The colder months bring with them a clear window of opportunity, and venues that invest now could be well-positioned to reap the rewards well into the second half of the year. Takeaway is no longer an afterthought; it’s a cornerstone of the modern hospitality experience.