Sweet news for Just Eat as order book flourishes

Just Eat, the digital retailer of takeaway food, has revealed that total orders in the first quarter of this year have surged 41 per cent as it said increasing the amount it charges restaurants in the UK had not put off customers.

Just Eat: 41 per cent increase in orders

The company said it now expected full-year revenues come in at £358 million, up from previous guidance of £350m, and operating profit to be within the range of £102m-£104m, up from previous guidance of £98m-£100m.

A 1 per cent increase in the commission rate for UK restaurants came into effect in early April, and Just Eat said the initial response to these changes had been “positive”.

Just Eat also reported a 41 per cent jump in same-floorspace orders in the first quarter, taking 31.5 million overall as the firm saw a boost from its international divisions.

Group chief executive David Buttress said: “We have had an excellent start to 2016 and I am delighted with the company’s performance and the momentum in the business.”