Israelis Shifted Spending Habits on Election Day, Data Shows

Israeli consumers altered their purchasing patterns on the recent election day, with a notable increase in orders for food and goods delivered to parks and entertainment venues, according to data from the delivery service Wolt. The day off for the 26th Knesset elections saw a rise in orders from bakeries, butcher shops, and toy stores, while demand for fashion and electronics decreased.

Hamburgers emerged as the most popular restaurant category, followed by pizza, shawarma, sushi, and ice cream. Peak ordering times were 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, and 5:00 PM. A significant trend was a roughly 40% increase in deliveries to locations outside of homes and offices, including parks, entertainment complexes, and schools where voting took place, indicating a shift in where people received their orders.

Beyond food, non-restaurant purchases also saw changes. Compared to an average Tuesday, orders from bakeries rose by approximately 25%, with similar increases for butcher shops and toy stores. Supermarket orders were up about 20%, and delis and pet supply stores saw a 10% increase. Conversely, fashion orders dropped by about 35% and electronics by approximately 30%.

The data, collected by Wolt until 6:00 PM on election day and compared to average Tuesdays, reflects only orders placed through the platform and may not represent all consumer activity during the day.