The Impact of Coronavirus on Consumer habits within the Food Industry

The pandemic of coronavirus has affected daily life in more ways than we can imagine. With the people being advised to stay at home and maintain the social distancing, many industries and supply chains are going through a shock. There are not enough resources for them to function properly.

The food industry is one of the most severely affected industries during this pandemic. While the general food availability has not been adversely affected, there are some looming changes that likely are going to happen. As of right now, food insecurity is not an issue in developed countries, but when we see the trends in what can be considered "less-developed" countries, the food insecurity is likely going to be double this year. When it comes to food chains in what could be considered "more developed countries", despite being significantly complex and under a great shock, food manufacturers and food processors have been successful in delivering the food to the people. This can be credited to the fact that the food industry as a whole is in a way battle-hardened. From the salmonella contamination in eggs to the mad-cow disease, the food supply chains have faced many critical scenarios and over time. Food manufacturers and food processors have developed a risk management system in order to stay working even in times of crisis.

Food security in developed countries is not a bona fide indicator that things are not going to change after this pandemic is over. People have been forced to live at home in most of the countries, which means the demand for food has increased. The cities and urban areas where the majority of the food is supplied by the external food manufacturers and food processors are experiencing two contrasting behaviors, either there is an unusually high round-the-clock demand of the food or the demand is high but in discontinuous intervals. While the non-urban areas which previously relied on external food supply are now moving towards local produce.

The food buying and consuming pattern of the consumers are likely going to change post-pandemic. There is a chance that food manufacturers will see a drastic shift towards the local food supply chain and there is an opportunity for both food manufacturers and food distributors to form a circular economy that will follow the principles of reducing, reusing, and recycling. People are going to be more vigilant about how the food is delivered and they will be more vigilant about health and safety. Similarly, there is a chance that post-pandemic, people will be taking more interest in pre-prepared and carry out food which can also increase the risk of other conditions such as obesity, etc.

There is an opportunity for food manufacturers and food suppliers to establish a new supply chain with a focus on new consumer behaviors. They can do that effectively by using Food ERP. Food ERP is software designed specifically for the food industry and it can help food manufacturers and food distributors to effectively and efficiently incorporate the new supply chain for their businesses.