If you run a takeaway or independent restaurant and you’ve held off on online ordering, you’re not alone. Thousands of late adopters are in the same boat. Busy running the day-to-day, sceptical of big tech fees, and unsure if delivery is really “for them.” But times have changed. Direct online ordering isn’t just for trendy burger joints or national chains anymore. It’s become the backbone of modern food businesses looking to grow without losing control or margin.

Let’s talk about why now is the perfect moment to make the leap, what’s driving growth in the market, and how you can build a local brand that keeps customers coming back (and not just to Just Eat or Deliveroo).

The Online Ordering Boom Isn’t Slowing Down

Despite the reopening of dine-in hospitality post-pandemic, demand for online food ordering continues to grow. According to Statista, the UK online food delivery market is expected to hit £13.9 billion by 2027, up from £10.5 billion in 2023. But here’s the twist: more and more of that growth is shifting away from aggregators and towards direct channels, where restaurants and takeaways keep the customer relationship and a much bigger slice of the revenue.

This shift is driven by:

Fatigue with 30%+ commission fees from platforms like Just Eat and Uber Eats.
Increased consumer loyalty to local brands post-COVID.
A desire for better margins and control over customer data.

And if you’re thinking “my regulars just walk in,” consider that over 60% of UK takeaway customers now check online before ordering, even if they plan to collect. If they can’t find you online, they may not find you at all.

Collection is the Click & Collect Hidden Goldmine

You don’t need a delivery fleet to start with online ordering. In fact, many of our TypeMenu customers begin with collection only. Why?

Zero logistics overhead – no drivers, no waiting around.
Predictable order prep – smoother kitchen flow, especially at peak times.
Expanded reach – people who are browsing on Google or scrolling Facebook can now place an order—even if they weren’t planning to.

For traditional chippies and walk-in takeaways, this is a game changer. It’s a way to modernise without losing your roots. No third-party branding, no mandatory deals, just your food, your prices, your way.

Side Hustle or Main Event? Restaurants Have Options

Many dine-in restaurants are using platforms like TypeMenu to run a parallel revenue stream, especially midweek or outside peak dinner hours. You can offer your most popular dishes as takeaway, prepped to go, without the hassle of table service or waitstaff.

Not sure it’s worth it? Consider this: if you take just 10 extra orders a day at £25 each, that’s £7,500 a month in extra revenue. That’s real money back into your business.

Building a Brand People Remember

Having your own direct ordering system is just the beginning. To build a brand that sticks in people’s minds, you need to show up in more places and more often.

Here’s what we recommend:

1. Get Your Google Business Profile in Order

It’s free and essential. Add your menu, opening hours, and photos.
ROI: Google says businesses with complete profiles get 7x more clicks.

2. Leaflet Drops: Still King of Local

Design a simple flyer with a QR code to your order page and a coupon for first-time online orders.
Drop 5,000 leaflets every 6 months in your delivery zone.
Cost: ~£200 per drop via Royal Mail door-to-door.
Expected ROI: 1% response = 50 orders x £25 = £1250 revenue per drop.
A single leaflet drop can kickstart long-term loyalty, many of those customers could become repeat buyers.

3. Be Social, Not Silent

Post a weekly special or behind-the-scenes kitchen video on Facebook or Instagram.
Ask happy customers to tag you or leave a review.

4. Customer Retention with Email & SMS

Collect emails at checkout (we’ll help automate that).
Send a monthly special or loyalty offer. It’s cheap and keeps you top of mind.

5. Brand the Bag

Stick your logo, website, or a promo card in every bag.
Encourage customers to reorder directly next time.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Need to Be Fancy. You Just Need to Be Findable.

You don’t need an app. You don’t need a £5,000 website. You don’t even need delivery drivers to start building a digital brand.

What you do need is:

A clean, mobile-friendly menu
A clear way for customers to order
Consistent presence on the platforms that matter (Google, socials, front doors)

The market is growing. Your customers are online. And your competitors—yeah, they’re already taking orders while you’re wondering if it’s too late to start.

It’s not too late. It’s right on time.

Want to See What Direct Ordering Could Do for You?

Try our savings calculator to see how much you could save.