We don't have flying cars or underwater cities yet, but we've come pretty far in the past hundred years.
Consider what the end of 1923 looked like. Prohibition was the law of the land, women were newly minted voters, and the world was still recovering from the horrors of WWI (with the beginnings of WWII brewing).
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Even just a decade ago, in 2013, technology wasn't what it is now. The iPhone 5 was out, complete with its home button and a slightly more 3D app interface.
Food delivery existed but not as we think of it now. DoorDash (DASH) -), one of the most popular delivery apps in the U.S., had just been founded. People still ordered mostly by phoning the local pizza or Chinese place.
Now, however, food delivery has zoomed, especially in larger cities. Major players, including Uber (UBER) -) Eats and DoorDash, compete to gobble up market share and satisfy customers with whatever whims and fancies they might have.
In New York alone, DoorDash works with more than 7,100 restaurants. Throughout the U.S., that number balloons to more than 450,000.
With all that data on hand, DoorDash compiled a roundup of the most popular foods and other items ordered on its app. And the findings are surprising.
DoorDash reveals top items ordered in 2023
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, DoorDash named 2023 its year of milestones. What began as a food delivery app now fulfills orders from drugstores, liquor stores, sporting-goods outlets, and more.
Of course, DoorDash's bread and butter is still food. Since 2013, it's fulfilled more than 600 million orders of French fries alone.
Here's a look at what else was popular.
Top foods nationwide, 2023:
- Fries
- Chicken Quesadilla
- Mozzarella Sticks
- Garlic Naan
- Spicy Chicken Sandwich
- Pepperoni Pizza
- Chips & Queso
- Traditional Wings
- Cobb Salad
- Fried Rice
Top grocery orders nationwide, 2023:
- Bananas
- Roma Tomatoes
- Strawberries
- Cucumber
- Cilantro
- Whole Milk
- Eggs
- Iceberg Lettuce
- Red Onion
- Blueberries
Top alcohol nationwide, 2023:
- Vodka
- Hard Seltzer
- Tequila
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Prosecco
- Whiskey
- Pinot Grigio
- Lager Beer
- Pinot Noir
- Rum
A lot has changed since 2013. Here are some findings from a decade ago, for comparison.
Top foods nationwide, 2013:
- Chipotle Chicken Sandwich
- Pork Potstickers
- Tomato Bisque Soup
- Cobb Salad
- Sweet potato Fries
- Guacamole
- Hummus
- Grilled Cheese Sandwich
- Tacos
- Pita
Top desserts nationwide, 2013:
- Strawberry Cheesecake
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Lemon Cheesecake
And since DoorDash has expanded into other deliveries, it's learned people have some interesting tastes.
Top miscellaneous items over the past three years:
- Printer Paper
- Microfiber Bed Pillow
- Fragrance Free Baby Wipes
- High Velocity Fan
- Laundry Detergent
- Incense Sticks
- Takeaway Containers
- Cotton Bath Towel
- USPS Forever Stamps
- AA Batteries
And something to watch out for over the next few years: DoorDash says it has seen demand for spiked seltzer leap 83% year over year.
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