Believe it or not, a 2 kg bag of ice cubes from Iceland was the most delivered item on Deliveroo in the UK this year, beating every pizza, curry and burger on the app.
It’s the first time a grocery item has topped the delivery firm’s yearly list, which it calls the Deliveroo 100, and the company says the very hot summer had a lot to do with it. The rest of the top 10 is a mix of takeaway favourites, supermarket treats and one or two things you might not expect to see on a food delivery app. Here’s what made the list, why ice came out on top and what it can cost to have everyday items brought to your door.
Ice cubes take the top spot.
Deliveroo says it delivered more Iceland Premium 2 kg Ice Cubes to UK homes this year than any other single item. The firm puts this down to people trying to cope with one of the hottest summers on record, which the Telegraph reported brought five separate multi-day heatwaves.
Jeff Wemyss, Deliveroo’s vice president and general manager for the UK and Ireland, said: “The UK’s hottest summer on record had us reaching for the ice and Brits did not mess about.” He said a bag of ice was the company’s top trending order in the UK and the first grocery item ever to top the list, with sorbet, mango slices and milkshakes close behind.
A Horsham pizza and a Dishoom salad were also up top.
In second place was the Diavola pizza from Monte Forte, a Neapolitan pizzeria in Horsham, West Sussex. It’s unusual for a single independent restaurant outside a big city to rank so highly, and a spokesman for Monte Forte said the team was “incredibly proud” to make the Deliveroo 100, calling it “a bit surreal” to see their pizza alongside some of the biggest names in the world.
Third was the Chilli Broccoli Salad from the Manchester branch of Dishoom, the restaurant group known for its Bombay-style cafés. It’s a reminder that not every popular delivery order is a heavy takeaway, as a vegetable side dish beat plenty of burgers and fried chicken to a top three place.
The rest of the top 10
According to the full list reported by Brit Brief, fourth place went to Morrisons Mango Sorbet from a Glasgow store, which fits with the hot weather theme. A House Cheeseburger from Supernova in London came fifth, and Clarityn Allergy 10 mg tablets from Boots Pharmacy in London came sixth, which suggests plenty of hay fever sufferers didn’t want to leave the house during the summer.
The rest of the top 10 was a Quesadilla from La Choza in Brighton, Charred Corn from Nando’s in London, Chicken Yeeros from Mythos in Leeds and a Prawn and Pork Spicy Wonton from Din Tai Fung in London. London restaurants take several places, but the list also includes cities and towns from Glasgow to Brighton.
Tights and eyelash curlers made the list too.
Deliveroo also released a longer top 30, which shows just how much people now use delivery apps for things other than takeaways. It includes 40 Denier Tights from Accessorize in London and an eyelash curler from Boots, items that people would once have popped to the shops for.
Supermarkets, chemists, and convenience stores have joined delivery apps in large numbers over the past few years, so you can now order toiletries, medicine, and groceries alongside your dinner. The Telegraph also reported that delivery riders say they’re often asked to bring single items, such as a coffee or a smoothie, mostly to people working from home on Mondays and Fridays.
The Deliveroo 100 turns 10.
This year marks the tenth time Deliveroo has published its yearly ranking of the most popular dishes and items in the UK. The list is based on what customers ordered most through the app over the year, and it often reflects what was going on at the time, from the weather to food trends.
Seeing a bag of ice at number one is a big change from earlier years, when takeaway dishes dominated. It shows how quickly grocery delivery has grown, and how people now treat the app as a way to fill gaps in their shopping as well as to get a meal.
What a bag of ice can really cost
The Telegraph worked out what the top item can cost once delivery charges are added. A 2 kg bag of Iceland ice can cost as little as £1 in store, but the basic price on Deliveroo rose to £1.20. Ordering it on its own added a £3 small order fee, a 60p bag charge, a 99p service fee and a £2.29 delivery fee, bringing the total to £8.08.
Delivery fees depend on how far away you are and which shop or restaurant you order from, so the total can be higher or lower. But the example shows how a cheap item can end up costing several times its shop price when it’s ordered on its own.
How to cut the cost of delivery orders
The quickest way to avoid a small order fee is to make sure your basket goes over the shop or restaurant’s minimum order value, so it’s worth adding a few things you’d buy anyway, rather than ordering a single item. Many apps show the fees before you pay, so check the total at the checkout and compare it with what you’d pay in the shop.
If the shop is nearby, choosing collection instead of delivery, where it’s offered, can cut out the delivery and service fees. Delivery firms also run subscription schemes that remove delivery fees on larger orders, but these only save money if you order often enough to cover the monthly cost, so add up how much you’d usually spend first.
Planning ahead in hot weather (it’ll be back before we know it)
If you’re likely to need ice for a party or a barbecue, buying it with your normal shop and keeping it in the freezer is far cheaper than ordering it at the last minute. You can also make your own by filling ice cube trays or freezing water in clean containers a day or two before you need it.
The same goes for things like hay fever tablets, sun cream and sorbet, which all featured on the list. Keeping a supply at home before the summer starts means you’re less likely to pay extra to have them delivered when the weather turns hot.
Getting the best value from food delivery
Delivery apps are handy, especially if you’re unwell, can’t get out or simply don’t have time, and the Deliveroo list shows how much people rely on them for everyday items. But it pays to check the total cost before you tap to order, particularly for small orders where fees can easily outweigh the price of the item itself.
Try to combine orders, go over the minimum spend, collect where you can and stock up on summer essentials before you need them. That way, you can still enjoy the convenience of delivery without paying several pounds for a bag of ice you could have bought for £1.
