Concept Development - ¶6 Trends To Watch ¶for in 2023

There’s been an acceleration of F&B brands going digital or phygital following Covid-19. Trying to exist in a hybrid world, more and more restaurants are offering delivery, creating a spatial-design problem. ‘Food delivery drivers come in wearing their brightly coloured uniforms, interrupting the flow of the on-site dining experience and shattering the illusion,’ says Ingram. ‘Some restaurants have opted for a quick fix by having a window next to the kitchen, but new designs can better consider how pick-up is integrated into the layout and experience.’

Ghost kitchens proved you don’t even need a street-front kitchen to serve customers, and now we’re even seeing brands that exist entirely in the cloud. ‘We’ve surpassed the idea of being able to sell food online without a restaurant, to being able to sell food online with nothing but a brand and a third-party delivery service,’ says Sawerschel, pointing to the example of DJ Khaled’s chicken wing delivery start-up Another Wing, a collaboration with ghost kitchen operator Reef Technology. ‘What matters is reach and branding power. I think this will push the envelope for existing players to come up with something more exciting than just the food they offer.’