Seven months after its official launch in Romania, Wolt releases its first comprehensive deep dive into the shopping habits of Romanians. Based on data from millions of items purchased across 34 cities, the statistics paint a vivid picture of a nation that embraces digital convenience while remaining loyal to local tastes.
From the dominance of garlic sauce to the rise of the “digital supermarket,” 2025 marked the year when delivery apps transitioned from a simple food service to an essential utility for daily life.
“The keyword for Wolt’s first seven months is evolution. We have registered significant growth, a clear signal that Romanians were ready for our platform. We are witnessing the rapid development of the one-stop shop concept. As we look towards 2026, our focus remains on becoming the essential infrastructure for local commerce, supporting our partners, and giving customers back their most valuable resource: time”, said Alin Șerban, General Manager, Wolt Romania.
While global fast-food chains maintained high ordering frequency, the volume battle had a clear winner. Data shows that shawarma was Romania’s number 1 foreign food craving in 2025, accounting for 4 of the country’s top 5 best-selling items.
However, when looking at the single most purchased item in the entire country, traditional cuisine reigned supreme. The “mici” outperformed every burger, wrap, or pizza, with almost 50,000 units sold by a single top venue alone.
The data obtained from the platform confirms that despite the wide variety of international options, Romania’s local cuisine is untouchable in popularity.
Beyond ready-to-eat meals, 2025 solidified delivery apps as Romania’s third retail channel, alongside hypermarkets and convenience stores. Romanians have embraced hybrid baskets, with household essentials items – like paper towels – frequently topping the list of best-selling items and even surpassing popular dishes such as burgers. This behavior spans from last-minute essentials, such as electronics chargers, to the consistent demand for beverages like water and caffeinated carbonated sodas.
The key driver of this habit is loyalty. The Genius subscription remains a favorite among Wolt customers, with 1 in 2 active users holding a subscription. This is even more pronounced in the grocery category, where over 80% of customers are Genius members, proving the value consumers place on recurring, cost-effective delivery.
Furthermore, Wolt’s data identifies the specific categories driving this retail expansion. For-home grocery essentials and personal care items took the top spots, showing impressive momentum, while even niche categories like electronics saw significant year-over-year growth.