Online shopping has never been easier—with a few taps, customers can order a gourmet meal, a pair of shoes, or a new appliance. In the food industry, e-commerce is taking businesses by storm, changing how restaurant owners and customers think about meals. From virtual kitchens to highly personalized dining experiences, the future of online food shopping and delivery is bright.

Is your restaurant ready to level up its digital game? Start by digging into the top food e-commerce trends of 2025.

What is food e-commerce, and why is it important?

Food e-commerce businesses sell food products online. This sector includes everything from restaurant delivery to groceries, meal kits, beverages, ready-to-eat meals, and specialty foods. Many food industry companies embrace both e-commerce and in-person sales. Restaurants, for example, might offer in-house dining and sell meals online for takeout and delivery.

Online sales can open your food-service business to new audiences and create a new revenue stream. If you’re selling dry goods online in addition to your regular menu, you can use restaurant SEO to bring in customers from all over the world.

As with any tech-driven sector, trends have a big impact on food e-commerce. In 2025, the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies is changing online food sales quickly. If your restaurant can stay current with the latest e-commerce food trends and deliver an experience that exceeds customer expectations, you can enjoy key business benefits:

• Order convenience. E-commerce orders are quick and easy, thanks to intuitive shopping cart systems and seamless online payments. Customers love the convenience of shopping when they’d like and scheduling pickup or delivery according to their schedule.
• Expanded product choice. If you’re offering products exclusively through online sales, such as spice rubs or branded merchandise, it’s possible to offer a wider range of options for customers than you do in-store. And if you outsource warehousing, packing, and shipping, you can sell a broad selection without worrying about storage space.
• Time savings. Online shopping systems can process transactions without human intervention, which reduces your employees’ workloads. Instead of taking orders and processing payments, they’re free to focus their energy on preparing delicious meals.
• Personalized offers. Thanks to AI and machine learning, it’s possible for online systems to analyze each customer’s order history and create personalized recommendations in real time. This individually tailored process can create a better customer experience and increase loyalty.
• Scalability. Because online shopping technology reduces manual labor, it’s easier to grow your business. For restaurants and convenience stores, online platforms such as Grubhub offer on-demand delivery services that adjust to your current order volume.
• Enhanced supply-chain efficiency. The latest technology tools can help you fine-tune everything from vendor selection to inventory forecasting, building a more efficient and reliable supply chain.

7 e-commerce food trends to be aware of in 2025

As 2024 draws to a close, it’s time to investigate the food e-commerce trends that will impact the restaurant industry in 2025. When you understand the technologies and consumer preferences that are transforming the food-service landscape, it’s easier to keep your business current.

Fast shipping and delivery

Delivery and shipping are getting more efficient every day, which is shifting customers’ expectations. In fact, a 2024 survey found that fast shipping is a top priority for more than 68% of consumers.

Speed is especially important in the restaurant industry, where food temperature and quality depend on rapid delivery. In 2025, restaurant owners will be looking to partner with third-party delivery companies with a proven track record of reliable, fast service. You might also consider tailoring your restaurant marketing campaigns to highlight delivery speed and set your business apart from local competitors.

Food and beverage subscriptions

Subscriptions have been on the rise in recent years, a pattern that’s expected to continue in 2025. If your restaurant has a younger audience, this is one of the most important industry trends to follow; subscriptions are popular among younger diners. Recent research from the National Restaurant Association found that 79% of millennials and 81% of Gen Z customers would be likely to buy a meal subscription.

A food or beverage subscription can create recurring revenue for your restaurant, boosting the bottom line and bringing customers into the business on a regular basis. You could take a cue from Pret a Manger’s Club Pret, which enables members to get up to five barista-made drinks every day for $40 per month. If you run a fine-dining restaurant, follow in the footsteps of the supper club at Gravitas based in Washington, D.C.—the $130 monthly fee includes a fully prepared, three-course takeout or delivery dinner for two.

Personalization

Personalization is coming to the restaurant industry in full force in 2025. As customers seek out highly tailored purchasing experiences, restaurant owners are turning to technology for help. Platforms with built-in AI can process a massive amount of data from individual customers and others like them; then, the system can adapt to the customer’s needs.

Take Grubhub, for example. When a customer opens our app, the system automatically analyzes their past interaction and order data. Then, it dynamically builds a homepage that’s suited to the person’s preferences and current location.

These types of personalized experiences are no longer optional. According to research from McKinsey, 71% of customers expect them. If you can leverage technology and build personalization into every interaction a diner has with your restaurant, you can create a food ordering experience that keeps people coming back.

Easy online ordering

When it comes to ordering food online, customers want a fast, convenient experience. In fact, 50% of shoppers consider the ease of checkout when they’re making online purchasing decisions. To meet this increasing demand in 2025, business owners in the food industry will be finding ways to streamline the buying process.

If you’re a restaurant owner, it’s essential to give customers a quick way to order food—no matter where they’re interacting with your brand. Start by building an online food ordering website. Then, include high-visibility links from your main website, social media profiles, Google business profiles, and the signature on your marketing emails.

Mobile apps and ordering

Mobile apps are the most popular way for customers to place food e-commerce orders, a pattern that’s likely to expand in 2025. According to Purdue University, 64% of Americans have used a food delivery app. And of the people who use apps, almost half say they order at least once every week.

Customers prefer mobile apps because they provide a fast, seamless ordering experience. Users can log on using facial recognition, access stored payment methods in seconds, and enjoy a personalized experience.

If your restaurant doesn’t yet offer a mobile ordering option, now’s the time to get on board. There’s no need to develop a proprietary platform; services such as Grubhub provide cutting-edge restaurant technology and app ordering without the investment.

Contactless payments

If you sell food online, the rise in contactless payments is one of the most important food e-commerce trends to watch in 2025—digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are skyrocketing in popularity. Diners love the convenience of paying for meals without ever pulling out their wallets.

Apple Pay is the most widely used solution, with 60.2 million users in the United States and an impressive growth of 41% between 2022 and 2024.

Contactless payments aren’t just for e-commerce orders; they can also be used in stores. QR code ordering, which rose to popularity during the pandemic, is an increasingly common way for restaurants to reduce labor costs and streamline operations. When you go this route, customers can order and pay for their meals online while still enjoying in-person service.

Eco-friendly packaging

Sustainability is an ever-growing trend in the restaurant industry as consumers demand more environmentally and socially responsible practices. At the same time, however, your diners are also facing the strain of ongoing inflation and food costs that are 28% higher than they were 5 years ago.

To meet customers’ demands on both fronts, restaurant owners like you will be searching for solutions that protect the planet without increasing prices in 2025. That’s where switching to eco-friendly takeout and delivery containers comes in; it’s among the easiest and most affordable sustainability practices to implement. You can choose from a variety of options, including biodegradable, recycled, and compostable containers.

Stay ahead of the competition with Grubhub

The restaurant industry is competitive, but by staying current with food e-commerce trends, you can satisfy customers’ demands and stay competitive. Grubhub makes it easy to keep pace. We offer the latest technology, free online ordering websites, and fast, efficient delivery. As a restaurant partner, you can even get access to promotions and loyalty tools that keep customers engaged.Ready for more restaurant industry insights? Sign up for Grubhub today, and learn how to enter the next phase of your business journey with confidence.