LONDON, March 14 Reuters British meal delivery company Deliveroo reported betterthanexpected core earnings of 85 million pounds 109 millionfor 2023, and expected further progress during 2024 with a move into positive cash flow.

The company, which competes with Just Eat Takeaway and Uber Eats, said total orders fell 3 yearonyear but rebounded a touch in the final quarter to being unchanged on the year.

Restaurant and grocery price inflation resulted in a 3 rise in the total value of orders to 7.6 billion pounds.

Chief Executive Will Shu said Deliveroo had made progress towards profitability, while giving customers faster and more reliable delivery.

He said he expected core earnings to increase this year to 110130 million pounds.

On a free cash flow basis, we were on the brink of break even in 39;23 and we39;ll improve on that in 39;24, he said in an interview on Thursday.

Shares in Deliveroo rose 2.7 in early deals.

1 0.7818 pounds

Reporting by Paul Sandle; Editing by Kate Holton and Bernadette Baum

Source Reuters