In the last five years, restaurant deliveries have seen a 20% growth, and are expected to represent nearly 40% of restaurant sales. Before the pandemic, the U. S. restaurant industry was growing at a rate of 3 to 4 percent annually.
However, delivery sales increased at a much faster rate of 7 to 8 percent. This growth was largely driven by millennials and Generation Z, who preferred the convenience of prepared meals over grocery shopping. Food delivery services have become a popular way for consumers to get their favorite dishes from restaurants. During the pandemic, many food delivery markets saw procurement as an opportunity to gain market share.
Meal kit subscriptions also gained traction as they allowed people to make cooking an entertaining activity while saving time. Busy parents and workers often look for time-saving trends in the food industry. Rappi, based in Bogotá (Colombia), is an example of a multivertical delivery application that combines food delivery with other orders (through services such as RappiFavor or RappiCash). Uber Eats and DoorDash have also started exploring the possibility of stacking orders as part of their food offerings.
Comprehensive personalization helps ensure that customer preferences, such as food allergies, are taken into account at every meal and that dietary recommendations are more accurate. In line with current health trends and environmental concerns, many consumers are interested in consuming only organic foods.
