Takeaway food providers must utilise social media in 2019 to thrive, JJ Foodservice has cautioned.

The recommendation followed restaurant website builder Foodit finding a 52% year-on-year increase in the number of visits to restaurant websites driven by social media.

This equated to 35,000 visitors and resulted in orders worth £25,000, reported Foodit, which is owned by JJ Foodservice.

“It’s not enough to simply be online – the best caterers are using social platforms to promote the uniqueness of their offer and drive loyalty,” added Foodit operations head Richard Bradshaw.

“It goes to show just how quickly these platforms are becoming an important part of restaurant and takeaway sales.”

The findings came as Foodit launched a free one-on-one Social Media Master Class for existing and new customers. The sessions will be held on-site, over the phone or via Skype.

If popular, a wider breakfast workshop, which will be open to non-members too, will run in January to cover issues businesses might have around social media, including negative reviews.

Subscribers to British Baker can read our feature on marketing a bakery business, including advice on social media and building a website, here.