Online food delivery has become increasingly popular in Singapore over the past few years. One key catalyst that accelerated this phenomenon is the Coronavirus pandemic, which disallowed individuals from dining in some of their favourite restaurants. What's more, in April 2020, the Singapore government introduced the ‘Circuit Breaker’ protocol, which ultimately shut off people from dining in any restaurant whatsoever. There are various aspects that play into food delivery, all of which contain positive and negative features that impact both the customers and the restaurants.
The Circuit Breaker had a vast impact on the F&B industry, as restaurants had to find new means of distributing food to their customers situated all over the island. Smaller eateries, however, had no means of delivering their food to customers as these services were too expensive to afford. For other restaurants, however, delivery services served as the only means of keeping their businesses alive. Many saw the benefits of these services and were able to exploit them to achieve the best possible outcomes for their companies.
But what does this mean for customers? Along with experiencing the disappointment that came with our favourite restaurants shutting down, people were unable to consume some of their favourite food that they seek much enjoyment from. However, not all hope was lost. Due to various food delivery services such as Grab, FoodPanda, Deliveroo, and others like them, people were still able to order food from some of their favourite restaurants, right to their doorstep.
From an environmental perspective, however, food delivery is sometimes not the most promising way to go. As many of the delivery people tend to use personal cars or motorbikes as their chosen mode of transportation, the pollution and carbon footprint that goes into the distribution of this food can be detrimental to the natural environment. This is why it is immensely important to find a stable balance between ordering externally and making your own meals.
It is understandable that because of food delivery services, some people became increasingly discouraged to cook themselves and explore making new dishes from various cultures. According to a survey conducted by QSR Media Asia, 80% of respondents said that they relied on food services more than ever throughout the Circuit Breaker period.
I fall into the category of tending to rely on delivery services a little more due to the pandemic, and sometimes I wish that I had taken more time to explore some new recipes and expand on my much loved hobby of baking. However, it is in human nature to sometimes take the easy route out, something I myself am acquainted with.
In hindsight, having some of my own favourite restaurants shut down as I was stuck at home, I have learned the importance of finding a balance between restaurant and home cooked food. Additionally, I have explored new baking recipes that I have tried out with my mom and other dinner meals I have prepared for the rest of my family. As a whole, although food delivery services can sometimes be the right way to go, I strongly believe that trying out new recipes online or in your favourite cookbook can bring positive benefits to your cooking and eating habits.
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