Online takeaway service Just Eat (LON:JE) reported a 26 percent boost in orders for the 2017 year, hitting a record 10 million orders in December alone.
Total orders for the full year were at 172 million, up from 136.4 million in 2016, with revenue rising 45 percent to £546 million.
Business was boosted by its Canadian acquisition of SkipTheDishes, which pushed total international growth up by 75 percent. Underlying earnings before income tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) rose 42 percent to £164 million.
Peter Plumb, Chief Executive Officer, called 2017 a “record year” for Just Eat.
“We helped 21.5 million customers order 172 million takeaways around the world. More Restaurant Partners joined our platform, increasing the breadth of choice for our customers and strengthening the Group’s geographical coverage to over 82,000 restaurants.”
“As the new CEO, I will be increasing our investment in brand, Developing Markets and delivery services that will be engineered to complement our thriving marketplace business by bringing more choice to our takeaway-loving Customers.'”
The group did post a loss for the period, but excluding exceptional items relating to its Australia and New Zealand businesses, it would have reported a profit before tax of £104.4 million.
Shares are currently trading down 14.4 percent on the news at 728.80 (0811GMT).
