(Alliance News) - Deliveroo PLC on Thursday said it met its annual gross transaction value targets, rounding off an "excellent year of growth" with a promising fourth quarter.
The food delivery company said its fourth quarter gross transaction value jumped 33% annually to GBP1.73 billion from GBP1.31 billion.
Orders increased 42% to 80.8 million from 56.8 million a year earlier. However, the value per order fell 7% to GBP21.4 from GBP23.0.
Fourth quarter gross transaction volumes jumped 35% in the UK and Ireland region, where Deliveroo said it has made "continued" market share advances. Its UK population coverage was 77% at the end of 2021, rising markedly from 53% in 2020.
In the International arm, gross transaction value was 30% higher.
For the whole of 2021, gross transaction volumes were 67% higher at GBP6.63 billion from GBP3.98 billion. Orders were 73% higher at 300.6 million, while the value per order was 4% lower at GBP22.1.
Lockdowns in the UK meant restaurants were unable to provide in-person dining for large parts of 2020, and also the early stretch of 2021. It meant food delivery platforms such as Deliveroo got a boost as more consumers turned to takeaways. Deliveroo's annual figures show the company managed to cling onto this increased demand as 2021 progressed, despite Covid-19 curbs easing.
However, Deliveroo cautioned average order values are "continuing to revert towards pre-Covid levels".
"We finished 2021 with a strong Q4 performance, and our full year GTV growth of 70% in constant currency was at the top end of the previously-upgraded guidance we provided," Chief Executive Will Shu commented.
"I am proud of what we achieved in 2021; despite a challenging backdrop, we continued to strengthen our customer proposition, widen our customer base and execute against our strategy. We are excited about the opportunity ahead and look forward to making further progress in 2022."
Deliveroo maintained its annual gross profit margin target at the 7.5% to 7.8% range.
It will report annual results on March 17.
Deliveroo shares were 1.2% higher at 171.77 pence each in London on Thursday morning. The stock is down 56% from its 390p float price.
It listed back in March but has since found share price growth hard to come by.
By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com
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