The new food delivery services
The idea of restaurant-quality food from your favourite brands delivered to you at home
was once just a pipe dream. But then along came the likes of Deliveroo, Glovo, Just Eat
and Uber Eats to change the way we order takeaways forever.
Now, after a year of global pandemic-related shutdowns, the food delivery industry is
changing again. As more people choose to dine in, the industry continues to do what it
does best. Restaurants have brought their creativity to the table, finding more inventive
ways to reach customers and create community through food.
So, how has Covid-19 shifted the world of food delivery services? Well it starts with
another quality upgrade, with Michelin-star delivery and star chef food boxes available on-
demand. Companies are also finding ways to make delivery fairer for workers and
restaurants, pushing through a challenging season to pioneer a takeaway scene that
serves everyone equally.
Let’s take a look at some of the change-makers in the food industry that are concocting
new ways to dine in. After discovering these exciting new trends, you may not be able to
resist ordering your favourite signature cuisine to enjoy at home
Delivery that is fair to workers
As Covid-19 shut down restaurants around the world and sent many communities into
confinement, delivery services became a necessary choice for keeping business alive. But
this meant third-party takeaway companies could charge a premium commission, (often
20-40 per cent per order). It has put many restaurants in a difficult situation, forced to
either lose profits or raise their prices. In the US, this resulted in a class-action lawsuit with
several companies saying the fees were unfair to restaurant workers and clients.
But one company is working to eliminate this dilemma and make takeaway food more
ethical in Barcelona. Les Mercedes is a group of educational tour guides who also had to
pivot during Covid-19, as they could no longer offer their in-person services.
So they hopped on their bikes and formed a new kind of courier experience. Their goal is
providing a sustainable, worker-friendly alternative to Glovo, Uber Eats, and other
businesses with fees that eat into restaurant profits.
Food delivery options that are fair to restaurants
Plenty of restaurants have decided to take matters into their own hands, doing their own
deliveries to cut out the middle-man and keep their hard-earned profits.
While big companies like Glovo and Uber Eats offer convenience and cut out liability,
many restaurants have found that developing their own delivery service is worth the effort.
And with delivery predicted to grow at three times the pace of in-person profits by 2023,
they’re right to see takeaway as an important long-term business decision.
But plenty of companies don’t have the funds to develop their own delivery platform. That’s
where the power of community comes in. New organisations like Delivery Co-op are
emerging to put control back into restaurant and employees’ hands. Local restaurants
come together as “owners,” serving their areas with more equitable choices and helping
businesses retain those hard-earned profits.
Michelin-star delivery
The transformation has taken many forms this year in the restaurant world, as delivery went
from offering only fast-food choices to various upscale options. Behind, Andy Benyon’s
London restaurant even earned a Michelin star after only 20 days trading as a takeaway
restaurant. With exciting high-quality options becoming available, even the most discerning
foodies can get their fill with delivery.
This trend has emerged on the Barcelona scene as well. Disfrutar, a local restaurant with
two Michelin stars offers their exquisite, Mediterranean-inspired dishes as a tempting
alternative to the usual takeaway options. Cocina Hermanos Torres is another restaurant
that has brought this concept to Catalonia, with their offering of complete menus at home,
paired with a bottle of wine.
Star chef food boxes
And the best chefs aren’t stopping at the standard delivery experience. The limitations
everyone’s faced this year have posed an opportunity for creativity. Restaurants like
Massimo Bottura's Franceschetta 58 and Dan Barber’s Blue Hill are welcoming the
the challenge, offering meal kits and inviting patrons to create their exciting recipes with fresh
ingredients at home.
Eateries like, an Asturian restaurant with two Michelin stars, are putting a
traditional spin on this modern idea. They send boxes of hearty Asturian cuisine straight to
your door, with freshly prepared ingredients patrons can simply heat up, plate, and serve.
Valencia has seen the trend emerge as well, with chefs like Quique Dacosta and Ricard
Camarena offering delicious boxes of gourmet creations to be enjoyed among the family
at home.
Delivering a bright future
Despite having to pivot rapidly, restaurants are finding ways to innovate during Covid-19.
There are always inventive ideas to create a fairer and more exciting way for people to
enjoy their food, so leave it to the restaurant industry to bring them to life. When everyone
emerges on the other side of the pandemic, they will surely find a transformed foodie
culture waiting to be savoured.
Terminal 42 is a Barcelona restaurant bringing you the latest food delivery news in our digital foodie magazine, Tu Mordisco. We provide signature cuisine with international inspiration and local ingredients. Our chefs have transformed our offerings to provide exciting delivery options, ensuring you can always access delicious restaurant-quality meals, no matter where you’re eating.