2020 was a year filled with many unknowns and as we settle into 2021, the past six months have continued to show the resilience of businesses, restaurants, and people nationwide as we forge closer to a reopened world. With vaccines becoming readily available and businesses preparing to open their doors again, connection, convenience, and comforting food remain an important part of our customers’ lives.
Today, we’re sharing DoorDash’s second annual mid-year Deep Dish Report, which checks in on popular food trends, how users are celebrating special moments, what trends are here to stay and what new ones have emerged these past six months. Using order data from January 1, 2021 to June 1, 2021 and a national consumer survey* that polled 2,000 Americans, we bring you DoorDash’s Deep Dish Report.
The DoorDash Customer in the First Half of 2021
As we settled into the new year, customers grew comfortable with treating themselves at home, whether that be indulging more in snack time or ordering in their favorite health and wellness items.
- The Convenience of Convenience: Snacking orders are more popular in 2021 with an order increase in items such as glazed donuts (501% increase), sweet tea (284% increase) and sour cream and cheddar potato chips (112% increase). As vaccines became readily available in March, we also saw an increase in items like electrolyte-based drinks (112% increase) and aspirin (49%). Plus in the first quarter of 2021, DoorDash’s non-restaurant orders climbed more than 40% from the fourth quarter of 2020.
- Staying Healthy and Happy: Health and wellness products are on the rise with a large surge in shampoo (1233% increase) and conditioner (1339% increase), in addition to tampons (686% increase), condoms (286% increase) and vitamins (254% increase).
- $2,955: The most money spent on a single order in the past 6 months was $2955 which included 35 luxury perfumes. Ooh la la!
Every Occasion is Worth Celebrating in 2021:
After a year of diluted, virtual or canceled plans, customers are finding much more to celebrate and enjoying the simplest of life’s pleasures. Celebrations and generosity are on the rise, leading to more gift-giving: 65% of Americans say they’re more likely to celebrate birthdays or holidays with family and friends in 2021 compared to 2020.
Top 10 States Feeling the Most Generous (in order of highest Gifting orders):
- California
- Texas
- New York
- Florida
- Ohio
- Illinois
- Georgia
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- North Carolina
- Love is in the air: With our Gifting feature, customers can send a personalized note to let their loved ones know they’re thinking of them: the most popular message people send? I love you.
Habits that are Here to Stay:
- Local is Where the Love is: Americans’ support for both local and Black, Asian-American and Women owned businesses is strong and will continue throughout the year: 95% of Americans supported local businesses in 2020 and 91% supported Black-owned, Women-owned, or Asian-American-owned businesses in 2020.
- On-Demand Remains in Demand: 65% of Americans report they’d rather give up social media than never be able to get an item delivered again.
Habits on the Rise: What we are expecting to continue to see more of in the second half of 2021.
Open Doors Means Customers are Open to New Adventures
- Catching Flights and Feelings? 91% of Americans plan to do more of at least one major type of activity as the pandemic winds down, with 68% planning to visit new places.
- Every Flavor Welcome: 63% of Americans report planning to try new restaurants, with 47% saying they plan to try new foods in general.
More Fun Calls for More Food: Top 10 Foods on the Rise as Customers begin to gather again
- Chocolate Shake (440% increase)
- Chicken Nuggets (410% increase)
- Cheese Pizza (362% increase)
- Spicy Chicken Sandwich (286% increase)
- Beef Burrito (248% increase)
- Hot Sauce (201% increase)
- Blueberry Muffin (161% increase)
- Bacon Cheeseburger (113% increase)
- Nachos (103% increase)
- Sausage and Egg Sandwich (107% increase)
New year, same comfort foods: Top 10 ordered items of the past 6 months
- French Fries
- Quesadillas
- Iced Coffee
- Boneless Wings
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pad Thai
- California Roll
- Caesar Salad
- Chicken Tikka Masala
- Chili
*This sample of 2,000 US adults was surveyed between May 27, 2021 and May 28, 2021. The sample was calibrated to accurately reflect US adult age demographics and provide an even gender split. DKC Analytics conducted and analyzed this survey with a sample procured using the Pollfish survey delivery platform, which delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps and the mobile web along with the desktop web. No post-stratification has been applied to the results.
Unveiling our Second Annual Deep Dish Report: Trends in 2021 was originally published in DoorDash on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.