- The new survey from Deliveroo offers a sneak-peek into which foods kept consumers well-fed and wanting more throughout 2020, and predicts what 2021 has in store for new UAE dining trends.
- 2020 saw a growing demand for meat and dairy alternatives with clean eating also on the rise. The survey shows that UAE residents want to carry these trends forward into 2021.
- Celebrating an occasion was the most popular reason to order home delivery in 2020 for UAE residents.
To shed light on how food trends are expected to evolve in 2021, Deliveroo has released predictions based on the survey.
Go Big while Staying Home: 2020’s Viral Food Trends
Over 93% of UAE consumers tried the following food trends during 2020:
- 43% attempted to make homemade pasta
- 42% of survey participants opted to try clean eating during much time at home.
- 31% tried the internet trend of homemade whipped coffee
And with no surprise we saw 28% of the surveyed participants making banana bread particularly most popular with residents aged of 25-34.
Keeping it Clean
The biggest food trends of 2021, will be centered around healthy and responsible eating.
- 45% of those surveyed said that cutting down on food waste would be something they would like to aim for this year
- 43% believe that sustainable foods will become even more important to UAE residents in 2021 as more people opted for meat alternatives
- 29% of UAE residents predicted that the demand for vegan food will continue to grow in 2021 as more vegan F&B concepts pop up around the country.
- 28% said that they will continue to support the trend for choosing local produce in 2021.
- 36% responded in favour of the seasonal vegetables trends and menu options
- 64% of respondents preferred to see the 2020 clean eating food trend translate into 2021 as well.
The New Normal Meal Times
With daily schedules turned upside down and majority of people working from home the following key insights regarding meal times in the UAE were revealed:
- 75% of UAE residents said they ate breakfast earlier in 2020.
- Lunch in 2020 for 39% of respondents was typically later and 33% were also eating their dinner later than usual.
- In 2021, 39.98% respondents hope to have an earlier breakfast, 27.6% aim to have lunch earlier and 30.39% are preparing to have dinner earlier.
Takeaway = Solution for celebrations and boredom
- Majority of the respondents shared that they celebrated special occasions by ordering food online, making it their most popular ‘reason to order’ for the year.
- 36% liked to order in when they needed a break from home cooked food.
- 32% placed online food orders to treat themselves during 2020.
Travel restrictions meant unlocking New Cuisines
Of those that tried new cuisines, following were the key insights:
- 44% of the respondents tried Indian Cuisine for the first time in 2020
- A shocking 38.80% tried American cuisine for the first time in 2020.
- 60% gave Chinese food a try for the first time in 2020
- 4% tried Italian food for the first time
- 7% decided not to try a new cuisine in 2020.
Most UAE residents were eager to tour the world with their taste buds in the absence of travel in 2020.
Anis Harb from Deliveroo, said: “Food trends in 2020 were quite reflective of the nature of the year itself. 2021 shows a clear preference from UAE residents for a cleaner, ethical dining lifestyle and we are excited to work with our partners to facilitate just that. No matter what 2021 has in store, Deliveroo UAE is, as always, here to deliver”.