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Milkshakes are bringing all the takeaway drivers to our yards, and all because the lockdown is hard.<\/p>\nMilkshakes are bringing all the takeaway drivers to our yards, and all because the lockdown is hard.<\/p>\n
A fast-food chain has been stunned by an 84 per cent increase in orders of the cold malted drink during the second lockdown in October and November.<\/p>\n
While milkshake sales would ordinarily plummet during the colder months, they have become the comfort-food of choice for fed-up families during lockdown.<\/p>\n
Bosses at Romayo\u2019s chipper have been left shaken-up by the results of their analysis of more than 20,000 takeaway orders.<\/p>\n
It is most likely a sign that people felt the need to treat themselves with comfort food, and who can blame them?<\/p>\n
Operations director Dario Macari said: \u201cIt was completely unexpected. I needed to double check the numbers when I saw this.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe milkshake showed an increase during the first lockdown in March, getting into the top five, but nothing like what we have seen in recent weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cNormally this is an item that sells less in colder months. It is most likely a sign that people felt the need to treat themselves with comfort food, and who can blame them?\u201d<\/p>\n
Although lockdown has hit many businesses hard, it has proven lucrative for the takeaway market, with sales skyrocketing.<\/p>\n
Consumers\u2019 favorite takeaway meal during the second lockdown, according to Romayo\u2019s, was also the top seller during during the first lockdown \u2013 a large pizza with sides, sales of which rose by 52 per cent in October-November.<\/p>\n
Kebabs made it into second place (up 37 per cent), followed by quarter pounders (up 20 per cent), beef burgers (up 61 per cent) and a battered sausage meal deal (up 37 per cent).<\/p>\n
As schools reopened, there was also a major spike in demand for students\u2019 favorite lunchtime snack \u2013 the chicken baguette.<\/p>\n
The study of orders from October 25th to November 23rd also showed the second lockdown fueled a surge in lunchtime orders with many taking proper breaks to refuel.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople made sure they had their breaks and bring back a bit of normality to the working day,\u201d said Mr Macari.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the first lockdown we reduced the operating hours as the lunch sales were quite bad and offices were closing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as the second lockdown was announced in October, it was like a switch, and lunch started doing really well so we stayed open.\u201d<\/p>\n
There was also a marked return to family mealtimes with orders between 4pm and 6pm increasing by 29% compared to the first lockdown in March.<\/p>\n
The chain also noticed a 20 per cent increase in customers ordering direct in what could be a reflection of the drive to shop local, rather than ordering through third-party apps.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, Romayo\u2019s announced the creation of 45 jobs over the next 12 months with the opening of three new outlets in Dublin.<\/p>\n
Romayo\u2019s, formerly known as Macari\u2019s, operates 19 restaurants in Dublin, Meath, Offaly and Kildare.<\/p>\n