Posted by Middleby Feb 27, 2025 9:30 AM

What is the Best Takeout Food and Delivery Equipment?

The past few years have solidified takeout and delivery as integral components of the American dining experience. Initially driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, recent data indicates that off-premise dining is not only persisting but evolving. As of 2024, the U.S. online food delivery market is projected to generate $1.22 trillion* in revenue, with an anticipated annual growth rate of 8.29% in the coming years. This means the demands on takeout food and delivery equipment will be critical.

The Growing Demand of Off-Premise Dining

Consumer habits have shifted notably. A survey revealed that 57% of Americans** now favor ordering takeout or delivery over dining out, citing the comfort and convenience of eating at home as primary reasons. Additionally, 70% of U.S. consumers*** reported picking up takeout in the past month, underscoring the sustained demand for off-premise dining options.

The Right Takeout Food and Delivery Equipment

To meet these evolving consumer expectations, restaurants must invest in specialized takeout food and delivery equipment to enhance the guest experience. Key solutions include:

Pick-Up Lockers:

Food quality, cleanliness, and safety are top overall priorities. However, the ordering and pickup experience also plays a significant role in customer satisfaction. Guests reported prioritizing ease of ordering and speed. As demand for quick, seamless service grows, more customers prefer minimal human interaction and a quicker pickup process.

With solutions like the Carter-Hoffmann Pick-Up Cabinet, or PUC, consumers can pick up their food with touchless capabilities that are quick, efficient, and safe. Integrate with your POS system or mobile app to create a seamless pickup experience all while keeping food hot and ready to serve. These systems can integrate with your POS or mobile app, ensuring a smooth and quick pickup process while keeping food at optimal temperatures.

Heated Holding Equipment:

Maintaining the correct food temperature is crucial for customer satisfaction. Heated holding cabinets, like those offered by Carter-Hoffmann, are ideal for back-of-house operations, keeping food warm without compromising quality. For establishments with limited space, warming drawers and countertop warmers provide effective solutions to extend holding times without affecting taste or appearance.

[Additional Reading: Visit Our Takeout and Delivery Resource Page]

A major disappointment when picking up or having food delivered is receiving it at the incorrect temperature. Nothing can ruin the customer experience more than lukewarm food. The solution? Warming equipment that holds at the right temperature while still maintaining quality. To keep food hot in the back-of-house before pickup or delivery, using equipment that doesn’t dry out food while maintaining its temperature is important. Warming drawers and countertop warmers are also great options for smaller quantities. Both increase holding times by hours without impacting appearance or taste and are perfect for restaurants with less space.

Delivery Warmers:

Many of us think about food delivery and immediately think of leather pizza delivery bags that would leave food cold and soggy upon arrival. With food quality being the most important thing to customers, food for delivery must maintain a fresh, right-out-of-the-kitchen quality.

For the highest level of heat control during delivery, CookTek ThermaCube provides induction heating for up to 30 minutes. It also controls humidity to prevent condensation from ruining meals, ensuring food is never soggy or cold. These delivery systems help ensure quality, which helps promote repeat business.