Christmas Surge: Uber Eats Boosts Festive Grocery Orders

As Christmas edges closer, the pressure on festive shopping only intensifies – and doorstep delivery is now part of Britain’s seasonal survival strategy.

New data from Uber Eats has confirmed a growing reliance on its grocery services, with a near 20% jump in grocery orders on Christmas Eve alone last year.

In response to this growing appetite for on-demand shopping, Uber Eats is introducing a suite of tools and features aimed at making the holiday rush less stressful for both customers and merchants.

Christmas convenience gets an upgrade

Securing a delivery slot in October, navigating full car parks on Christmas Eve or dashing out last minute for forgotten ingredients are all familiar festive stress points.

Uber Eats is stepping in with convenience-led solutions that help cut through this seasonal chaos. From delivering emergency supplies to sourcing the full Christmas roast, the platform is sharpening its edge as a one-stop festive helper.

December 2024 painted a clear picture of changing behaviour; not only did entire Christmas dinners shift to doorstep delivery, but potatoes became the most ordered grocery item on the app. At the same time, searches doubled for pigs in blankets, Champagne and mince pies. Brits even searched for more than three tonnes of turkey – and that was just on Christmas Day.

Katie Hunter, General Manager of Grocery & Retail at Uber Eats UK, says: “Christmas is a magical time, but it can also be incredibly hectic. Whether you’re cooking for ten, dashing to a party, or buying the perfect gifts, Uber Eats is helping customers get what they need, when and where they need it.

"We’re also committed to helping our retail partners grow during this critical period, with the tools, insights, and tech to help them stay competitive and deliver a seamless on-demand experience.”

Gifting also plays a growing role on the platform as orders for gift sets and supplies more than doubled last December compared to the year before.

To meet this demand, Uber Eats has launched a dedicated gifting hub in partnership with high street names such as Boots and John Lewis. This hub offers an array of options including cards, candles, perfume, Prosecco and even AirPods – all delivered directly to the door.

Tools for smoother trading

To help merchants handle the festive peak, Uber Eats is also rolling out new features designed to streamline operations and enhance customer experience.

Live order editing allows shoppers to change items or quantities right up until their items are picked so there's no need to cancel and start over. Customers simply tap ‘Add items’ or ‘Edit items’ in their order-tracking screen and continue shopping.

Replacement preferences also give users more control when items are out of stock. Customers can now set their preferred substitutes, with AI-generated suggestions based on past orders, nutrition and price. These choices are also saved for future use.

Batch picking enables in-store staff to gather multiple orders at once. Instead of going back and forth across the store, they can organise item collection by section, improving efficiency during high-volume periods.

Variant browsing brings an ecommerce-style experience to the platform. Customers can now browse different colours or sizes of the same item on one page.

Chris Conway, Quick Commerce Director at Co-Op, explains: “The festive period is a busy time for many of our members and customers so, with a convenience store in every postal area of the UK, we’re focussed on making it easy for shoppers to get delicious festive favourites and everyday essentials delivered to their homes when they need it.

"Whether it’s for unexpected guests, top-up or forgotten items, or an evening in, we’re able to provide great quality, value and choice, quickly and conveniently.”

Uber Eats also supports retail partners by helping them list thousands of products – more than 15,000 with some of its largest UK partners – and tailoring services to their pricing and operational needs.

Evolving demand reshapes delivery

Uber Eats’ grocery expansion reflects a shift in how last-mile logistics support the UK retail sector. On-demand platforms must now juggle real-time inventory, batch order fulfilment and tight delivery windows. This requires deep integration between tech platforms, retailers and suppliers – especially during pressure points like Christmas.

The platform’s upgrades also show how delivery services are evolving beyond food. A growing number of customers want flexible shopping solutions for both meals and gifts, prompting Uber Eats to broaden its role across grocery, gifting and general retail.

Gen Z plays a notable role in this shift. Around 69% in the UK use food delivery apps regularly, placing orders nearly five times a month. This generation values fast, digital and ethical shopping experiences, influencing Uber Eats’ push into features like AI-powered substitutions and social media-integrated gifting.

Meanwhile, industry consolidation continues with DoorDash’s US$3.9bn acquisition of Deliveroo, signalling a push for scale and technological advantage as the deal brings together UK retail partnerships and US-led expansion strategies.

In this environment, Uber Eats positions itself not only as a meal delivery service, but as a flexible, responsive platform built for modern festive shopping.