Four Food Trends that we may see in India Post Lockdown

“According to the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), food services, estimated at 4,23,865 crore in India, employ more than 7,00,000 people. The lockdown has adverse effect on the restaurants and the struggle will go on even post lockdown.”

The Indian food culture has faced major drawbacks during the COVID-19 outbreak, and it will not be easy to stand back up once the lockdown is removed. It has been said that we might have to learn to live with the virus and this means that gatherings at restaurants and the culture of eating outside will see a major change. People will move towards healthy and immune food and prefer trustworthy and clean restaurants. Take away and home delivery might be preferred. The workers might face strictness in maintaining hygiene with regular temperature checks, etc.  Here we have compiled four most probable trends that we may see in the food industry in India post Lockdown:

1. Inclination towards Organic

Even before the pandemic outbreak, people were growing health conscious and choosing a healthier lifestyle, after the lockdown people will become even more concerned about healthy eating, therefore they might be inclined more towards organic food. An organic diet is free from chemically processed food and hence becomes a better and healthier option for people.  After the lockdown, we might see a rise in the organic food industry.

2. Plant Based Food

Vegetarian or vegan food might be preferred for some time, over meat market. People might prefer healthy plant based diet. Indian culture has plenty of delicious plant based food and in the coming decade we may see a rise in it, as consumers and chefs, both will move towards plant based ingredients.

3. Technology and Home Delivery

There is a chance that the food industry will become more technology based as social distancing becomes a necessity. Restaurants move towards Zero contact delivery (For example Dominos), and the culture of eating out in restaurants will face a break. Take away joints might become the new normal and cleanliness will become a priority. Restaurants might use technology to become more innovative and provide home delivery.

4. In house cooking

During the Lockdown, people have started to make various dishes at home and this might continue post lockdown. As everyone will be more health conscious now, people will prefer making dishes at home rather than risking it outside, things might slowly go back to normal but it is hard to predict anything as the patients are increasing and the vaccine is yet to be discovered.

Restaurants might become more technologically stronger and various innovative techniques might be used that will give rise to a completely new phase of food culture in India. Restaurants will face struggle for some time but hopefully things will become normal and stronger again. Hygiene and cleanliness with immunity boosting menu and proper planning might help restaurants to get back up in the tough times.