APAC Market Insights: Food & Dining Apps and Brands in 2025

Global Food & Drinks app downloads nearly reached 2 billion in 2024, marking an 11% year-over-year increase from 1.78 billion in 2023. The APAC region emerged as a key growth driver for the global Food & Dining app market in 2024, with India leading the charge, driven by rapid digital adoption, smartphone penetration, and aggressive marketing. For more insights, please click the button below to view the full report for free.

Note: The download data in this report are based on estimated downloads from the App Store and Google Play, excluding pre-installs, re-downloads, and downloads from third-party Android marketplaces. Google Play is not available in Mainland China.

Food & Drinks App Downloads Near 2 Billion in 2024, Growing 11% YoY

Global Food & Drinks app downloads nearly reached 2 billion in 2024, marking an 11% year-over-year increase from 1.78 billion in 2023. Growth accelerated in the second half of 2024, driven by strong performances in Q3 (+7.1%) and Q4 (+9.6%). This upward momentum continued into Q1 2025 (+1.5%), indicating sustained consumer interest. 

The consistent growth across App Store and Google Play highlights strong demand for Food & Dining apps as mobile-first services gain traction. This trend offers opportunities for brands to enhance user engagement through innovation and personalized mobile experiences.

India Leads Food & Drink App Growth as Emerging Markets Surge

India saw explosive +143% YoY growth in Food & Drink app downloads, exceeding 113M by Q1 2025, driven by rapid digital adoption, smartphone penetration, and aggressive marketing by players like Blinkit and Swiggy through strategic campaigns and promotions. Southeast Asia also grew strongly at +18%, while South Korea rose by +4%. China’s iOS Market saw a slight decline (-1.6%) due to market saturation from leaders like Meituan and ele.me, competition from apps like Jingdong Daojia, and Douyin’s expansion into food services. Regulatory challenges and shifting consumer preferences further contribute to the slowdown. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Japan maintained steady growth around 3%, while emerging markets present strong opportunities for expansion.

Grocery Delivery Drives Growth Among Food & Dining App Subgenres

Grocery delivery apps led growth in 2024, surging 36%, driven by increasing consumer demand for convenience. Dining & Restaurants grew strongly at 29%, alongside notable gains in Dine-In Restaurants at 16%, reflecting heightened spending on dining experiences. Fast Food grew by 3.3% and Restaurant Ordering & Delivery by 7%, driven by improved mobile apps and personalized promotions catering to convenience-focused consumers. Meanwhile, Food Blogs & Recipe Resources fell 3.5%, and Delivered Meal-Kits dropped 8.6%, reflecting a broader shift as post-pandemic dining out and takeout rebounded. Apps like Zepto, ZUS Coffee, and Uber Eats capitalized on these trends, while the Delivered Meal-Kit category faced challenges adapting to the changing demand landscape.

Zepto Tops Food & Dining App Downloads, While Instamart and Blinkit Accelerate Growth in Q1 2025

Grocery delivery app Zepto led global Food & Dining app downloads in Q1 2025, alongside major fast-food brands like McDonald’s and KFC. Grocery and quick-commerce platforms such as Instamart and BigBasket also ranked highly, reflecting strong consumer demand for convenience and rapid delivery services.

Robust growth rates underscore the market’s sustained momentum, led by significant surges from Instamart, Blinkit (80%) and BigBasket (148%), highlighting intense competition in grocery delivery. Additionally, Zepto Café  stood out with exceptional 163% growth, emphasizing rising consumer interest in quick-service café experiences.

Regional Leaders in Food & Dining Apps Highlight Localized Consumer Preferences

Food & Dining app rankings in Q1 2025 reveal distinct regional preferences. Global brand McDonald's maintains dominance, securing the top position in Europe and Japan, while DoorDash leads the U.S. and iFood is the preferred choice in Latin America. Restaurant ordering & delivery apps like Uber Eats, PedidosYa, and Rappi also hold prominent spots across several markets.

In Asia, locally-focused platforms shine: South Korea favors Coupang Eats, while Japan sees notable demand for Yakiniku King and Starbucks. The Middle East market stands out for rapid growth in grocery and food delivery, with KeeTa and Ninja topping rankings. These diverse regional trends underline the importance of targeted strategies to effectively engage local consumers.

The Role of Digital Advertising in Market Expansion

Digital advertising remains a critical driver of growth in the Food & Dining industry. In 2024, U.S.-based brands led the sector in ad spend, surpassing $600 million per month, with impressions exceeding 60 billion. 

Global brands maintain influence through heavy digital ad investments. Yum! Brands leads in Australia and maintains presence across all markets, while McDonald’s ranks high in the UK, Australia, South Korea, and Japan. Uber Eats and Woowa Bros dominate in Japan and South Korea, highlighting strong food delivery services. Domino’s Pizza consistently ranks in the top ten, especially in the U.S. and UK. Despite strong regional players, multinational brands shape the market through strategic ad spend.

A key strategy in these campaigns has been localization. Brands tailored their marketing efforts to resonate with regional audiences, incorporating culturally relevant promotions and strategic partnerships. For example, KFC Japan collaborated with the popular game Genshin Impact to attract gaming enthusiasts, while Wolt’s limited-time discounts in Japan focused on price-sensitive consumers. In South Korea, Baedal Minjok emphasized affordability with budget-friendly meal deals, and Burger King Korea leveraged nostalgia-based marketing to reinforce brand recognition.

The Future of Food & Dining Apps

Looking ahead, the Food & Dining app landscape is expected to continue evolving, with grocery delivery and specialty dining apps gaining further traction. As competition intensifies, brands will need to refine their digital advertising strategies, emphasizing personalized marketing, loyalty incentives, and seamless user experiences. The ongoing shift toward mobile-first consumption habits presents significant opportunities for app developers and food service providers to innovate and expand their reach. For more insights, please click the button below to view the full report for free.