Online food delivery in the Nordics- statistics & facts

The online food delivery market exploded in the Nordic countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Like in other parts of the world, this surge subsided as consumers returned to in-store shopping in the wake of the health crisis. However, the pandemic led to the development of new online shopping habits. Consumers became experienced in ordering fresh food and hot meals right to their doorsteps with just a click of a button. Online food delivery, therefore, has become a mainstream practice. In 2023, the market was valued at eight billion U.S. dollars, and is forecast to reach over 12 billion dollars by 2027.

The online food delivery market is divided into two segments: grocery and meal delivery. The former generates higher annual revenues, while the latter has a greater number of users. In 2023, online meal delivery was utilized by more than 10 million users, compared to nine million grocery shoppers. Over the next few years, the numbers are expected to rise steadily.

From the Nordics to the world

The mounting popularity of food delivery apps is one of the main reasons behind these impressive numbers. Apps allow users to easily order food anytime and anywhere using their mobile devices. The local player Wolt is the most popular food delivery app in the region. Since its establishment in 2014 as a restaurant food delivery platform, Wolt has achieved remarkable traction in its home country of Finland and among its northern neighbors. The Wolt app tops the charts in Norway and Denmark and ranks as the second-most downloaded app in Sweden. In 2022, DoorDash, a U.S. heavy hitter in online food delivery, acquired Wolt. This merger is expected to promote further international growth, with plans to enter the Canadian, Australian, and Icelandic markets. Other popular food delivery apps in the region include HelloFresh, Uber Eats, Bolt, and Glovo.

Grocery boom and bust

The global online grocery market grew exponentially during the pandemic, with investors pouring money into the rapidly growing industry. Since the big boom, the market has been struggling, with funding rounds declining and valuations plummeting. Oda, a Norwegian grocery start-up that recently lost its unicorn status, and Mathem, a Swedish online grocer, were among those that suffered in the latest market crunch. With new challenges arising in the Nordics, most e-commerce segments have been affected. Only time will reveal how online grocers will fare during uncertain times, characterized by an inflationary market and escalating living costs.
This text provides general information. Statista assumes no liability for the information given being complete or correct. Due to varying update cycles, statistics can display more up-to-date data than referenced in the text.
Published by L. Yltävä, Feb 28, 2024

Key insights

Revenue of the e-commerce industry
40.8bn USD
Revenue of the online food delivery market
8bn USD
Number of online meal delivery users
10.4m
Get more insights

Editor’s Picks Current statistics on this topic

Share of consumers who bought food and groceries online in Norway in 2022, by age group

B2C E-Commerce

Share of consumers who bought food and groceries online in Norway 2022, by age group

Groceries & beverages purchased online by category in Finland as of December 2023

Food & Nutrition

Groceries & beverages purchased online by category in Finland 2023

Groceries & beverages purchased online by category in Sweden as of December 2023

Food & Nutrition

Groceries & beverages purchased online by category in Sweden 2023

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Online food delivery market

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Country-based reports in the Nordics

4

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Overview

5

Overview

Sweden

9

Sweden

Denmark

7

Denmark

Norway

6

Norway

Finland

8

Finland

Further reportsGet the best reports to understand your industry

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Grocery retailers in Finland
Grocery retail industry in Norway
Grocery retail industry in Norway
Online grocery shopping behavior
Online grocery shopping behavior
Online grocery shopping in Germany
Online grocery shopping in Germany
Online grocery shopping in the Asia-Pacific region
Online grocery shopping in the Asia-Pacific region

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