It’s round-up time for some of the biggest news stories in the fast food, courier and parcel delivery world from the past year!
2024 has been an interesting year for the industry, with hydrogen van tests, viral AI fails and continued growth and opportunities.
Read on for our yearly round-up!
Links to full news stories at the bottom of this article.
In April 2024, the UK food delivery market was projected to reach £3.8 billion.
This growth reflects the increasing consumer demand for quick and easy meal options and the expansion of delivery services across the country.
Additionally, technological advancements have been shaping the future of fast-food delivery, with innovations such as robots, ghost kitchens, and AI contributing to the evolution of the fast-food market.
Furthermore, the UK courier industry has been experiencing significant growth, driven by technological advancements that provide companies with more flexible delivery options.
All of this progress has resulted in improved services and increased customer satisfaction.
In May, a survey by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles found that 52% of UK van drivers now see electric vehicles (EVs) as more cost-effective than petrol or diesel vans.
Over two-thirds believed EVs met their business needs, with the expansion of London's Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) being a key driver for adoption.
While familiar concerns about charging times were raised, reliability issues were seen as less problematic. Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz Cargo van and incentives like ULEZ’s scrappage scheme are helping businesses transition to EVs.
Fancy bacon with your ice cream? Nine orders of unwanted tea? Or how about hundreds of dollars worth of chicken nuggets?
These were some of the hilarious results after McDonald’s in the US trialled their AI ordering system.
Developed by tech giant IBM, the technology uses voice recognition software to process customer orders. However, the AI began to fail, resulting in confused orders and online mockery for McDonald’s.
Initially, concerns were raised about losing more human jobs to robots. However, the transition was not as smooth as intended, highlighting the continued need for human oversight.
Drone delivery trials are changing the game for getting packages to people, especially in hard-to-reach places.
In Scotland, Royal Mail tested drones to deliver mail to remote islands. The drones carried up to 6 kg of mail, making deliveries faster and more reliable, even in bad weather.
The project, called the Orkney I-Port, could become a permanent service, reducing the need for ferries and lowering carbon emissions.
In a study by Ankura, the UK parcel delivery sector in August 2024 showed significant growth, driven by e-commerce demand.
Delivery drivers delivered over 4 billion parcels annually, valuing the parcel delivery industry at a huge £15 billion. Key players, including Royal Mail, DPD, and Evri, have been adapting with technological innovations like AI routing and automated sorting systems to improve efficiency.
Though challenges remain, such as labor shortages and environmental pressures, companies are investing in more sustainable practices such as electric vehicles for drivers.
In September, we reported on 3 big ways that the future of fast food delivery is predicted to change.
Covering drones and robots, GPS live tracking and pinpoint delivery, and ghost kitchens we looked at the technology making our lives more convenient.
This month, supermarket Morrisons and food delivery service Uber Eats expanded their services by adding over 400 supermarkets to the Uber Eats platform.
In the UK, delivery time from Morrisons is roughly 30 minutes, and customers are able to order from thousands of items.
According to Uber Eats, the number of people ordering groceries on the platform has almost doubled in the last two years. With customers expecting convenience, can we expect this number to grow? Will we see more supermarkets join suit with online delivery apps? Only time will tell, but with delivery driver and courier job postings up 79% in October, the opportunity is certainly out there.
This month, the spotlight was shone on mental health for van and truck drivers. According to a survey by Geotab, half of respondents felt uncomfortable speaking with their employers about mental health and stress.
The vast majority of surveyed drivers said work-related stress negatively affected their driving, increasing the potential risk of collisions.
With Christmas right around the corner, this time of year can be difficult to navigate for some.
Never be afraid to reach out and speak to someone about how you’re feeling. Here are some helpful resources where you can chat to someone anonymously.
Time to look at what we ate, how we ate and where we ordered from in 2024.
Health-Conscious Choices: Deliveroo reported a surge in health-focused orders. Notably, cucumbers from Waitrose ranked fourth among the fastest-growing items, influenced by viral TikTok recipes. Caesar salads from London-based Atis and The Salad Project secured the second and third spots, respectively.
Regional Favorites: Deliveroo's data highlighted local preferences:
Shift in Dining Habits: Post-pandemic, there was an increase in Britons dining out, rising from 24% in 2021 to 47% in 2024. However, takeaway orders remained substantial at 72% in 2024, emphasizing the continued importance of convenience.
The UK courier and delivery market shows no signs of slowing down in 2025. Food and grocery-based app downloads continue to grow as customers look for convenience from their own homes.
Job opportunities for drivers increased this year, but so did work-based pressures such as road safety, environmental conditions and delivery schedules.
It’s important to look after yourself and take a break where you can. Use the helplines above if you need to speak to someone in confidence, or just to get things off your chest.
However you choose to celebrate (or not), spend time with your loved ones this December, and we’ll see you in 2025.
Sources:
Morrisons Uber Eats Delivery driver jobs up