It is the first time the industry's economic impact has been assessed © fergusburnett.com
The UK’s takeaway food industry is worth £9bn to the country’s economy and represents 12.5% of its total foodservice sector, according to the industry’s first economic impact assessment published today by Just Eat.
The research showed that the takeaway sector supported more than 220,000 jobs in 2014 – or 153,000 full-time positions when adjusting for the effects of part-time work.
Total employment in the takeaway industry rose by 10% from 2012 to 2014 and by nearly 17% over the past five years, mirroring the wider growth the sector has seen. In addition to the people employed directly in the sector, the knock-on economic impact of the industry supports a further 72,000 full-time jobs, of which 38,000 are indirect jobs in the supply chain, and 34,000 are induced jobs in the wider economy. The sector is expected to generate another 30,000 jobs over the next five years, according to the online ordering platform company.
The sector accounted for 12.5% of the foodservice industry ©fergusburnett.com
It commissioned the research, conducted by the Centre for Economic and Business Research, to establish the contribution made by the industry to the UK’s wider economy.
At £9bn, the sector is worth more than other service industries such as design, and hairdressing and beauty, Just Eat said.
Just Eat UK managing director Graham Corfield said: “We know takeaways contribute a huge amount to our culture but what many don’t realise is the enormous impact takeaway restaurants – often small, independent, and family-run – make to our economy.
“The takeaway sector rightly deserves to be recognised and championed as one of the key industries supporting small businesses across the UK and this is why Just Eat has launched the British Takeaway Awards – the first ever multi-cuisine takeaway awards in the UK.”
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