Running a telemarketing campaign to takeaways? Here's what's in the list
| In the list | Count |
|---|---|
| Telephone numbers for UK takeaways | 24,350 |
| Named contacts available (a person to ask for) | 18,570 |
| Workplaces counted by ONS (the whole UK market) | 49,360 |
The list covers hot food takeaways across the UK: kebab shops, Chinese and Indian takeaways, burger and chicken shops and other collection and delivery outlets. For almost every record the number is the shop's own line, the one customers ring to order. Keep that in mind on every call: while you're talking, a customer may be getting the engaged tone.
Named contacts are usually the owner or the person who runs the shop. In family-run takeaways the person who picks up may be a relative or a member of counter staff who knows exactly when the owner is in, which is often the most useful thing you can learn on a first call.
Fish and chip shops (6,973 numbers), pizza outlets (1,457) and fast food delivery outlets (2,600) are held as separate categories, so you can add them if your product suits the wider hot food trade. The ONS figure for this sector (SIC 56103) also includes fish and chip shops and mobile food vans, which is why it is larger than this list.
TPS or CTPS? Screening takeaways' phone numbers before you call
Under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) you must not make a live sales call to a number registered with the Telephone Preference Service (TPS) or the Corporate Telephone Preference Service (CTPS), unless that business has told you it's happy to take your calls. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are treated as individuals, so their numbers go on the TPS; limited companies, LLPs and other organisations use the CTPS. Screen the whole list against both registers before every campaign, and keep your own do-not-call list of anyone who asks you not to ring again.
How UK takeaways are set up, from the Office for National Statistics (49,360 workplaces, UK Business Counts 2026, SIC 56103):
| Legal form | UK workplaces | Share | Register that applies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limited companies and LLPs | 40,505 | 82% | CTPS |
| Sole traders | 6,785 | 14% | TPS |
| Partnerships | 2,025 | 4% | TPS |
| Charities, clubs and other non-profits | 40 | under 1% | CTPS |
On the ONS figures most takeaway workplaces are run by limited companies, so the CTPS covers the bulk of this list. Bear in mind that ONS only counts businesses registered for VAT or PAYE: very small cash-based takeaways below the VAT threshold are missing from those figures, and they are more likely to be sole traders. In practice the TPS share of a takeaway list is probably higher than the table suggests, which is one more reason to screen against both registers.
Some small takeaways list a mobile as the shop number. It's still the business line, and it goes through screening like any other.
Who to ask for when you call takeaways
In a takeaway, the owner decides nearly everything. The trick is reaching them when they're not cooking or serving.
| Ask for | What they decide | Getting them on the phone |
|---|---|---|
| Owner or proprietor | Suppliers, packaging, card machines, ordering systems, signage, insurance, energy. Usually all of it. | Often in the kitchen. Ask whoever answers when the owner is in before opening, and ring then. |
| Shop manager | Day-to-day stock and suppliers where the owner has more than one shop. | Can't always sign, but knows the owner's routine and what the shop is short of. |
| Director or area manager | Contracts across several sites for multi-site operators. | Often works away from the shops. Ask the shop for a head office or direct number. |
| Franchisee | Local services the franchise doesn't fix. Franchise agreements often set food and packaging suppliers. | Find out early what they're free to choose, then pitch only that. |
Getting through to the owner of a takeaway
There's no receptionist at a takeaway, but there is a gatekeeper of sorts: the order line itself. Whoever answers is listening for an order, and the shop may be noisy. To get through:
- Say you're not ordering straight away. "Hi, I'm not calling to order" stops them reaching for the pad and buys you ten seconds of attention.
- Ask one question: "Is the owner in today, and what time's best to catch them before you open?" Staff are usually happy to answer that.
- Speak clearly and keep it short. Fryers, extractors and the counter make a takeaway a hard place to hear a long sentence.
- Hang up quickly if a rush starts. "You're busy, I'll call back at three" is remembered kindly. Hanging on while orders go unanswered is remembered too.
- Call back exactly when you said you would. Owners judge suppliers on whether they turn up on time; a punctual call-back is your first proof.
Best and worst times to call takeaways
Takeaways trade in two shapes: some open for lunch and the evening, others only in the evening. Check the shop's opening hours, then aim for the gap before service. These windows are general advice.
| When | Verdict | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mornings before about 11am | Avoid | Many takeaways aren't open yet and the owner may not be in, or is taking deliveries. |
| Lunchtime service, roughly 12pm to 2pm | Avoid | For lunch-and-evening shops this is a busy service. |
| Mid-afternoon, roughly 2.30pm to 4pm | Good time | The quiet spell between services, or prep time before an evening-only shop opens. The owner is often there and not yet rushed. |
| Monday to Wednesday | Good time | Usually quieter trading days, so owners have more time to talk. |
| From about 4.30pm onwards | Avoid | Evening service is starting and the phone needs to be free for orders. |
| Friday and Saturday evenings | Avoid | Peak trade. Don't call. |
| Big match nights and bank holidays | Avoid | Takeaways are often at their busiest when there's a major televised event or a long weekend. |
Seasonality: when in the year to call takeaways
Takeaway trade moves with the calendar, and owners' appetite for a sales call moves with it:
What to say: a short opener and replies to common objections
Your opener has to do three things in a few seconds: show you're not a customer, find the owner and respect their time.
When the phone is answered
Hi, I'm not calling to order, don't worry. Is the owner around?
To the owner
It's Sam from [your company]. I'll be quick before you get busy: we [what you do, for example supply branded pizza boxes and bags]. Could I send you a price to compare against what you pay now, or shall I call back at a quieter time?
Fill in the brackets with your own product. Offering a price to compare, rather than asking for a meeting, suits takeaway owners: it's quick, concrete and easy to say yes to.
When they push back
"No problem. What time's quiet tomorrow, about three?" Write it down and ring at three. Most takeaway owners won't call you back, so the follow-up is your job.
"Lots of shops do, and I'm not asking you to change everything. Could I quote you on just [one item], so you can check it against your next cash and carry receipt?"
"Thanks, I'll ring them instead so they don't have to. What day are they usually in, and what's their name?"
Prices for a list of takeaway phone numbers
You pay per record, and the price per record falls as the order grows:
| Number of records | Price per 1,000 |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 2,500 | £295 |
| 2,500 to 4,999 | £270 |
| 5,000 to 9,999 | £245 |
| 10,000 to 19,999 | £220 |
| 20,000 to 49,999 | £195 |
| 50,000 or more | £170 |
Other phone lists
Questions about calling takeaways
Where can I get a list of takeaways' phone numbers to call?
We supply one. Our list of takeaway phone numbers holds 24,350 telephone numbers for UK takeaways, with 18,570 named contacts available, and you can choose by region or postcode area to match your sales territory or delivery round. You can add fish and chip shops, pizza outlets or fast food delivery outlets to the same order.
Running a telemarketing campaign to takeaways? What do I need first?
Screen the numbers against the CTPS and TPS, ask for the owner by name, and plan your calling for mid-afternoon on weekdays, in the gap before evening service. Have a quick, concrete offer, such as a price to compare, rather than a request for a meeting, and expect to call back at least once.
Is the takeaway phone number the owner's number?
It's normally the shop's order line. The owner may answer it, but often a family member or counter staff will. Ask them when the owner is in and call back then.
Are fish and chip shops and pizza shops in the takeaway list?
No, they're separate categories: 6,973 fish and chip shops and 1,457 pizza outlets. Add them to your takeaway order or buy them on their own.
Should I phone or visit takeaways?
Phone first. A short call in the afternoon tells you whether the owner is interested and when they're in, so any visit happens outside service hours, when they'll actually talk to you.
How much does a list of takeaway phone numbers cost?
You pay per record: £295 per 1,000 for orders under 2,500 records, falling to £170 per 1,000 for 50,000 records or more (excluding VAT). Tell us which takeaways you want and we'll send a free count and an exact price.