The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 proved a bane for dine-in restaurant operators and a boon for food takeaway service providers. Amid the lockdowns, dine-in transaction volumes and value plunged in 2020, while takeaway transactions rose. However, the pent-up demand for dine-ins resurged as authorities began easing the pandemic control measures in 2021. Despite the prevailing social distancing and face mask mandates, consumers began flocking back to their favourite eateries in 2021. As a result, dine-in transactions began rebounding, while takeaway transactions decelerated.
