From Uber-eats to Click and Collect – there is one clear theme around how consumers are choosing to purchase and eat food – convenience is king.
Over the last 12 months, we’ve seen customer demand soar as food now not only has to be quick to access, but it also needs to be served safely and often-times in a contact-free environment.
Technology in this space has been rapid as operators move fast to adapt to the new landscape thanks to the global pandemic of COVID-19. But despite an abundance of innovation now at our fingertips, competition has been fierce making it even harder for businesses to find their foot-hold.
FOOD INCREASINGLY OUTSOURCED
According to a report from Deloitte, a greater share of food budgets is going towards food that is prepared outside the home. In Australia, money spent on meals prepared outside the home has grown from 25% in the 1980s to more than one-third of household food expenditure today.
When you consider the additional expectations and responsibilities on families in this day and age, it’s not surprising the outsourcing of food preparation is appealing. The lure of tap and go business models, Uber Eats to your doorstep and app-based ordering, gives people back precious time in an extensively time-poor society.
Food businesses who move quickly to cater to busy customers who want to eat when and where it suits them, could have a clear advantage.
SMART TECH MAKES BUYING FOOD FASTER
And it doesn’t just have to be delivery that reigns supreme, with many traditional retailers, such as supermarkets, fast-food chains, restaurants and bakeries giving customers more fresh food options that offer convenience in amongst their fast paced lifestyles through a very unlikely source…vending machines.
For example, in every Shell Service Station positioned across Dutch motorways, you’ll find Your Food Pal – a multi-functional smart hot food vending machine used to sell snacks and meals. Why? Because customers don’t have to queue up for products and can pay quickly with contactless payment options.
PLUS is one of Holland’s leading supermarket chains.
And, with over 200 stores, it’s no wonder the Dutch brand is up there as a favourite among customers. But it’s not just great groceries that PLUS does exceptionally well – they’re also a trend-setter when it comes to selling hot food from a vending machine.
The progressive IGA type retailer says that using a Your Food Pal machine creates an inviting atmosphere that customers have come to know and love, all while making it easy to buy food without being held up in lines or queues.
The added benefit of the machine’s in-built artificial intelligence and anti-bacterial coating to keep food and people safe from harmful bacteria and viruses, ensures that the convenience factor has also been matched with COVID-19 measures.
THE FUTURE OF OUR PLATE
Every day, 7.7 billion people around the world eat, consuming 14.5 million tonnes of food.
For many developed countries, technology is at the centre of how, when and where people are eating, driving a new and exciting food culture. With the ability to collaborate and outsource so many aspects of our lives, food and its level of its accessibility and convenience could be a deciding factor for consumers.
The question is, how might your business adapt to these rising demands?
For an option that delivers safety and convenience, talk to the team at Your Food Pal about our full turn-key business solutions.
