Rise in takeaway
According to figures from Statista, as of 26 August the percentage of seated diners in restaurants worldwide has declined by 35% year-on-year. Those who prefer dining at home safely are fuelling the growth of the meal delivery business with creative options such as meal kits, bottled cocktails and gourmet produce from online farmers’ markets.
This delivery model is expected to continue expanding in the region. China was already the largest market for on-demand food delivery in the world pre-pandemic with a value of US$85.4 billion in 2019. As market research firm dataSpring reported, the food delivery market in Southeast Asia is expected to grow exponentially from US$2 billion in 2018 to US$8 billion in 2025 as a result of the pandemic.
Agung Prabowo, former co-founder of The Old Man Hong Kong, also observed that not many drinkers are currently, “drinking too much or letting loose over multiple shots at the bar” as they did before, because they are becoming used to practicing restraint, maintaining a sense of social responsibility, and reducing vulnerability to disease and illness.
