Delivery should continue to grow in the post-pandemic

The pandemic of the new coronavirus and social isolation changed the habits of the population and directly impacted on business and communities. The food is not dissociated from this movement. To understand changes in eating habits during and after the crisis, Galunion, a foodservice specialist, and the Qualibest Institute developed the Study Covid-19 & Food. Conducted from 5 to 7 May, the survey heard 1,100 people throughout Brazil via online questionnaire. One of the factors pointed out by the study was the effect of the pandemic on the income of Brazilians — 40% of respondents had a drop in their income and 26% were without any income during the period. The shake-up in the domestic economy is expected to have an unprecedented impact on eating out, according to the survey. At the same time, 97% of the interviewees started cooking at home or increased the frequency with which they did so. The alternative of ordering grocery deliveries became a reality for 17% of Brazilians, who experienced this tool during social isolation. When asked about the food they most wish to consume during the period, the pizza was the choice of 73%; hamburgers (59%), sandwiches (46%) and masses (40%) appear in sequence. The study also pointed to a rise in cuisine stemming from indulgences such as sweets and cakes. The study looked at the most important factors when choosing a restaurant to order. Hygiene and cleanliness appear as the most sought-after values, followed by fair price, tasty food and well-done service. Asked what would motivate them to buy more ready-made food, 44% of respondents pointed out the possibility of part of the money being donated to people in need and 34% cited the option to get a discount when the restaurant is reopened. According to the research, the future of delivery is optimistic. Among respondents, 21% believe they will spend even more on this post-pandemic shopping channel. Despite the data, the sector still has challenges to overcome. 51% of respondents said they have stopped buying at the delivery of a restaurant because the packaging came with problems, such as lack of seal, messy food, leaking etc. For Galunion and Qualibest, some measures that can help brands improve their delivery experience are to reinforce actions that help the delivery man's courtesy, invest in sealed, hygienic packaging that maintains the temperature of the food, and takes care that the delivery process ensures the integrity of the product. According to the survey, while 79% of respondents plan to return to eating out, 69% do not believe that regulars will respect the new codes of behavior. 83% of respondents attend self-service restaurants. In the post-pandemic, they expect adaptations such as disposable gloves and gel alcohol (39%), pre-portioned portions (20%) and also consider the possibility of an auxiliary attendant in the composition of the dish (26%).