The news: Uber and DoorDash are benefiting from strong delivery demand as the habit becomes more deeply embedded among consumers seeking convenience and instant gratification.

• Uber’s delivery gross bookings rose 26% YoY while revenues jumped 28%, making it the company’s fastest-growing segment.
• DoorDash’s total orders increased 27% YoY, beating expectations, with US restaurant marketplace gross order volume growth accelerating during Q2.

Behind the numbers: Food delivery is gaining traction across income levels. Thirteen percent of US adults have increased spending on home delivery from restaurants this year, up from 10% in 2025, per Ipsos. Nearly 1 in 5 Americans (17%) have food delivered at least once a week, according to a February YouGov survey.

Consumers with household incomes of $50,000 or less also order delivery more often and spend more than their wealthier counterparts, according to an analysis by The Argument, suggesting that even among lower-income consumers, the format’s convenience outweighs any price concerns.

Both Uber and DoorDash see an opportunity to use that interest and existing engagement with their platforms to drive growth in other retail sectors, such as grocery.

• Uber launched an AI-powered Cart Assistant earlier this year that helps grocery shoppers build a cart using text or images, such as a handwritten grocery list or screenshot of recipe ingredients. That feature is increasing spending, with Cart Assistant users often having baskets that are two times larger than non-AI users, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said during the company’s Q2 earnings call.
• DoorDash’s latest campaign highlights shoppers’ cringe-worthy purchases—including laxatives and condoms—to draw attention to its non-restaurant offerings while underscoring benefits like speed, convenience, and anonymity.
• DoorDash noted that its membership program is driving adoption for its grocery and retail offerings, with DashPass subscribers accounting for 75% of total orders in those two categories in Q2.

Uber and DoorDash are pursuing similar growth strategies. Both are bullish on autonomous delivery to improve speed and efficiency, and both have recently made large-scale acquisitions to expand into international markets. Uber’s Delivery Hero acquisition will expand its delivery reach to nearly 100 markets as well as double the number where it offers both mobility and delivery, enabling it to bolster its consumer appeal and ad business. DoorDash, meanwhile, is using its Deliveroo acquisition to strengthen its European business and enhance its ad capabilities.

Implications for consumer spending: Much like Amazon and Walmart, Uber and DoorDash are betting that a comprehensive ecosystem that offers a broad, cross-category assortment coupled with fast, convenient delivery options and robust membership benefits will attract more dollars—both consumer and advertising—to their platforms.