Many local restaurants such as HYW 12, Rio Vista Bakery, and Lucy’s, have turned to delivery as means to surviving the pandemic but as we begin to reopen, what does the future hold for the delivery business? Will the demand for delivery continue?
Howard Lamothe, the owner of HWY 12 Diner said, “When we were closed for sit-down service, delivery accounted for 40% of our total business and helped carry us, but more importantly, we were able to service our customers.”. Howard went on to say, that they even picked up new customers, who have become regulars. Sometimes they get it delivered and sometimes they dine at the restaurant. The customer is king, and according to Door Dash, 60% of U.S. consumers order delivery or takeout once a week.
A recent Gallup poll revealed that 72% of consumers order food delivery because they don’t want to leave their house, and 41% want to avoid bad weather. And, according to a survey by the National Restaurant Association, more than 60% of millennials want restaurants to use technology to make ordering takeout and delivery more convenient.
Rio Fast Delivery meets that demand. Chris Churchill, the owner of Rio Fast Delivery which started in April this year said, “business is brisk, and we have clients of all ages and walks of life”. He went on to say, that “many of the deliveries are to Trilogy, but we also have deliveries to people who are stuck at their desk and other who don’t have time to cook”. Rio Fast Delivery plans to add two more delivery drivers in the next week to keep up with consumer demand.
As long as the people and the technology are progressing, so should the businesses around them. To maintain a steady stream of revenue and stay competitive in the industry, restaurants must adapt to these changes in consumer habits and consumers of all ages are turning to the Internet to find restaurants—in fact, 90% of customers conduct online research before choosing a restaurant.
The main takeaway from these food delivery trends is that convenience is the most important factor for consumers opting for food delivery. Food delivery platforms are an easy way to improve the customer experience thanks to a simple ordering process and speedy delivery of your quality food to their doorsteps. With delivery demands running high, restaurants in Rio Vista should be able to recover their businesses much faster.
