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From hot dogs in New York to Pad Thai in Bangkok, if you can think of it, it’s being sold on the streets somewhere.
Street food is deep-rooted in the history of global cuisine, and it continues to grow in popularity today. It’s popularity in the UK has risen substantially in recent years but it’s hard to pin point exactly why as it could be attributed to many. Possibly It’s affordability, or it’s quality, or even the social aspect of it. We’re social creatures after all. We might never know why, but what is clear is that we’re huge fans of it. We’re such huge fans that we’ve inadvertently re-designed what we mean by street food.
Street food has transgressed from trolleys, and carts, and paper money, and instead we now think of bustling street food markets with live music, large multi-tiered inner city dining halls, and re-purposed disused warehouses lined with converted shipping containers. Street food has also been technologically revitalised, becoming increasingly reliant on 21st century technology like EPOS systems and digital loyalty cards. The street food industry, and technology, has changed dramatically so it’s worth exploring their relationship.
Things that are now second nature didn’t seem possible 10 to 15 years ago; being able to order food via apps, or being able to have takeaways delivered by taxi to your exact location regardless of where you are. Paying for meals on bank cards stored in your phone, and having a directory of all the UK’s restaurants and takeaways in your pocket. These all seem like perfectly normal now.
The food industry has generally capitalised on the advancements of tech, but I don’t believe the whole food industry has. Unfortunately, it seems as though the street food industry has fallen behind. It hasn’t adopted and used tech in the same way that the takeaway or restaurant industry has. Let’s look at those industries.
The takeaway industry initially struggled with keeping its consumers accurately informed on what takeaway food was available. This was due to exceptional growth in the industry and an increasing number of fast-food outlets. The industry used tech in such a way that we now have multiple apps that will list every takeaway and food delivery business near you. A simple yet clever idea which helped the industry grow.
The restaurant industry struggled with ensuring its customers were accurately informed on when and where tables were available, leading to frustrated customers. The industry used tech in such a way that we now have apps that tell us which restaurants have tables for the size party we require and the time we need. Another simple yet clever idea which helped the industry grow.
What’s the common theme in both of those solutions? They used technology to simplify an issue, presenting customers the information they needed, when they needed. They made the ordering and booking processes slick and easy. Now let’s look at the street food industry.
Role play for a second… you’re a street food lover in a new city desperate to find some street food. You have no knowledge of the local street food like you do at home, however you’re adamant you want street food. How do you find it? Well there is no quick and easy way to do so, you have to take your business elsewhere. This industry is suffering as a result.
So how does the industry address the issue? In the same way that the delivery and fast-food industry did. We find a way to present street food customers with the information they need to purchase street food. What does that look like? A live street food map showing street food vendors and where they’re trading, including live menus, photos and offers. A live street food map at their fingertips. We stop making customers rely on ineffective social media platforms that are constantly changing, and aren’t build for the hospitality industry.
Fortunately, the notion of a live street food map isn’t just theoretical. Over at My Streats HQ we’ve built it, and it’s making finding street food quicker and easier than ever. This simple yet clever idea has used the technology of the 21st century to build a platform that is connecting street food consumers to street food vendors, and it’s simultaneously providing vendors with an effective marketing tool so that they no longer have to rely on ineffective social media platforms. We truly believe that it will help grow and sustain the street food industry.
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