Deliveroo has launched the Snack To The Future Report, which identifies how the region will be eating by 2040.
 |
| Source: Deliveroo. The report finds that by 2040, people’s diet could become fully bespoke thanks to AI. Food delivery services could synchronise meal options with someone’s personal AI and provide recommendations based on their physiological and psychological state at any given time, for instance. |
Led by Deliveroo alongside Singaporean food experts Yip Hon Mun and Luke Tay, together with several other global industry leaders, the report has uncovered key food trends that will be impacted by technological advancements and shifting consumer preferences by 2040. Some of the trends include:
○ Breath-prints will make our future food decisions for us. Expect personal tech devices to be enabled with breathtech, enabling consumers to breathe on a device and get a deep level of insight into what foods they should be eating to have optimal impact on their individual health and wellbeing.
○ Me-ganism: Going beyond keto, the next big thing in dieting and set to be the mainstream diet of the future is the me-gan diet (me-ganism). This is a hyperpersonalised diet which takes into account individuals’ nutritional needs, and is powered by AI.
○ Personal AI: Underpinning the Me-gan diet and lifestyle, AI technology will offer consumers their own personal AI (a life-long AI buddy) which will help automate and tailor what they eat based on their preferences and needs at any given time.
○ FOODGASMS: By 2040, dining will be a fully immersive experience and as such, food
delivery s
ervices such as Deliveroo can use experiential formats such as augmented
imagery, audio and packaging to elevate consumers’ meal enjoyment as part of their
delivery orders.
○ EDIBLE BEAUTY: Get ready to see the food and beauty industry become more integrated than ever with a rise in edible beauty products like anti-ageing ice-cream and the chance to dine from hormone-balancing and dopamine driving menus.
○ 3D PRINTED MEAL PLANS: From packed lunches to printed lunches, food prep is about to become a lot easier with advances in 3D printing technology helping consumers create perfectly portioned and nutritionally balanced meals of their choice at home.
○ A METAVERSE OF FOOD DISCOVERY: The metaverse will expand into an interconnected world where people’s digital and physical engagement with food fully converge. With the rise in augmented artificial smell technology, the metaverse can be incorporated into meal delivery platforms, where consumers will virtually smell and taste the food before ordering, helping to discover new food options while reducing time deciding between a wide-selection of cuisines.
○ RESTORATIVE RESTAURANTS: New restaurant concepts will immerse diners and remove outside world distractions, with personal tech devices banned from entry, to a rise in popularity of silent cafés and restaurants which ONLY offer tables for one to encourage mindful eating.
○ NEWFOUND FOOD STAPLES: Daily staples will look a bit different from the usual rice and noodles, as petai, jackfruit, cowpea, arrowroot, azuki bean, buckwheat, amaranth and other variants of Asian yams, beans and forms of superfoods are set to be our newfound daily staples.
○ ALT-OHOL: Pairing of alcohol alternatives with the desires of healthy living. Gone are the days of awful hangovers as by 2040, we expect alt-ohol beverages like wine-inspired cordials formulated to mirror the dryness and depth of wine but fortified with vitamins and nutrients to keep consumers healthy - literally raising a glass to a longer life.
“The most notable trend across all is the need to empower consumers with control over their food choices, allowing them to enjoy meals on their terms, precisely when and how they prefer. In addition to considering affordability, taste, and nutrition, customers will have the option to select sustainably sourced food or customise their meat to align with their ethical and environmental standards,” said Yip, a Senior Adviser on Food Technology in Singapore. Beyond the shifting consumer preferences, the report highlighted that climate change and overpopulation will continue to contribute to future food shortages, people’s diets and the way they live. Many of the plant varieties that are grown today might not be available because they are unable to meet the climate challenges of tomorrow.
“For tropical countries like Singapore, we will face harsher and more volatile weather, shaping Singaporeans’ life- and work-styles. Hence, their nutritional needs and food-styles will transform in tandem,” said Luke Tay, a Food Systems, Sustainability and Geopolitical Analyst from Singapore.
“People will also become more nocturnal, working and eating amid the cooler night hours, leading to food and delivery services being a segment that never sleeps, catering to consumers round-the-clock. Concurrently, with climate change impacting staple crops, it gives way to other mainstream ingredients that will need less water to grow and sustain in Singapore,” shared Tay.
“Operating in a food haven like Singapore allows for a massive catalogue of meals. With these new technologies, those willing will be able to make more informed food decisions based on data collected of their daily food intake. There’s even the option for food companies to recommend various meal options that increases convenience and ensures nutritional needs and goals are met consistently in line with Singapore’s Healthier SG Strategy,” said Jason Parke, General Manager at Deliveroo Singapore.
“I started Deliveroo in 2013 with a mission to connect people to the best quality food from local restaurants and deliver it directly to people’s doors. It has been an incredible ride over the past ten years and I am really proud of what we have built. As we look towards the next decade and beyond, Deliveroo will continue to create exciting new innovations in food delivery, build new and better consumer experiences and take Deliveroo beyond functionality and convenience to really capture the passion and emotion of food,” added Will Shu, Founder and CEO of Deliveroo.
