Deliveroo Slashes Forecasts After Cost-of-Living Crisis Hits Q2

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Investing.com — Deliveroo (LON:ROO) slashed its guidance for 2022 on Monday after reporting a sharp slowdown in order volume growth in the second quarter, the latest stark illustration of the cost-of-living squeeze on consumer spending. 

The food delivery group said gross transaction value – the total value of orders through its network – grew only 2% on the year in the three months through June, down from a rate of 12% in the previous quarter. GTV growth slowed to 4% from 12% in the key U.K. and Ireland market, and to only 1% from 11% in its other markets. 

As a result of what it called “increased consumer headwinds”, it said it now only expects GTV growth to be in the range of 4%-12%, adjusted for foreign exchange, down from a previous range of 15%-25%.

The figures are consistent with a string of other negative news from the U.K. consumer sector in recent weeks, reflecting the impact of tax increases and a surge in energy prices that has pushed overall inflation up to its highest in over 30 years. The 4% U.K. GTV growth figure lags well behind the annual inflation rate of 9.1% in May.

However, Deliveroo said it still expects its loss before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization to narrow this year. It left its EBITDA margin forecast unchanged at between -1.5% and -1.8%. Last year it had been -2.0%. 

Deliveroo will publish full results for the first half on August 10th.