Now more than ever, the food industry is witnessing a massive shift in the way people view and consume food. With the growth of delivery services, meal kits, and digital menu offerings, the concept of convenience has led to an increased presence of at-home food trends among households. Of course, this shift has its positives and negatives.
When it comes to understanding the at-home food trends, one key area of focus should be on the data generated from the food services sector. Companies such as Brizo provide a board and diverse set of data that help with in-depth menu analysis and restaurant technology coverage. Additionally, the data allows for targeted research and prospecting of the food service industry with specific data fields and insights that are exclusive to the food service industry.
In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the pros and cons of at-home food trends and how companies can leverage the data generated from the foodservice market.
The Pros of At-Home Food Trends
One of the chief benefits of the evolving food landscape is the convenience that it offers. From services delivered right to your door to contactless ordering and payment options, households are presented with a plethora of food options that save time, energy, and resources. As a result, the customer has more control over when, where, and how they consume their food.
Moreover, the food industry has seen an unexpected silver lining from the pandemic. Technology-based food delivery services surged throughout 2020 due to social-distancing mandates, leading to an increase in food delivery orders of up to 60%. This surge is likely to continue as people’s affinity for digital ordering and contactless delivery persists long after in-person restaurant dining resumes.
The Cons of At-Home Food Trends
On the other hand, there are some downsides to the burgeoning at-home food trends sweeping the foodservice sector. For instance, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) has raised concerns about the negative environmental impacts of home deliveries, especially as orders become more frequent. Disposable containers and bags, combined with increased emissions from delivery vehicles, have put additional strains on the environment.
Another issue centers around jobs. With the massive surge in digital ordering, front-of-house restaurant jobs, such as waitstaff, are in danger of becoming obsolete. In addition, some restaurants are considering automatization to reduce costs and labor, leading to an overall decline in industry jobs.
Leveraging Data to Augment At-Home Food Trends
Companies such as Brizo provide an extensive selection of data-driven insights and analytics to identify and target new prospects in the foodservice market. This can be a major advantage for organizations looking to increase their sales and expand operations.
By using comprehensive market insights to make better informed decisions, companies can enable enhanced production and strategic brand expansion. Additionally, leveraging data to enhance systems will help ensure that all data-driven decisions are focused on the customer experience.
Enrolling teams in data-driven industry insights will further equip teams to attract, convert, and close leads. Moreover, this could lead to more dynamic and tailored approaches to the customer experience, as the in-depth menu data and tech coverage will better inform team members about the target customer’s habits, behavior, and interests.
Last reflections
As we can see, the quality of the customer experience should be the main priority for companies when it comes to evaluating the pros and cons of at-home food trends. The convenience and digital accessibility have rapidly escalated the industry and established new norms for the food service experience.
By leveraging data to garner insights into the customer’s needs and habits, companies can provide them with a more personal and tailored experience. With the right approach, the food service industry can further their success in the digital age and continue delivering tasty meals to all homes.
