This document is directed at investment professionals and qualified investors (as defined by MiFID/FCA regulations).
Digital transformation is impacting every industry. In food service, many companies recognize that to keep up with competitors and thrive, they need to invest in technology, which we believe is creating opportunities for investors who can identify the leaders in this race.
Strategic Considerations in Food Service
- After experiencing the challenges of the pandemic, nearly three quarters of food service executives (71%) said digital transformation is “very important,” according to a survey by Panasonic. More than half (59%) of respondents said their top strategic priority is integrating physical, digital and mobile shopping experiences. This is nearly three times the proportion who ranked integration of physical and digital shopping as a top priority in early 2020.
- Restaurants are investing in technologies to become more efficient. These include mobile devices for associates, customer kiosks, smart inventory/shelf solutions, mobile apps for customers, food lockers for customer pickup and license plate recognition. Some are even experimenting with facial recognition in kiosks and at point-of-sale.
- The technology race is allowing some restaurants to gain significant market share. Consider that only 15% of total food service transactions were initiated via an ordering app in 2020. While that is a huge jump from 6% in the prior year, it pales in comparison to restaurants like Chipotle, which conducts half of business digitally or Wingstop, which is 60% digital. Digital leaders and the companies that enable their transformation are likely to outperform peers, in our view.
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