How Food Apps Drive Technology

When high-tech talents get together over a meal, the result could very well be a tasty innovation. Food-related startups are cropping up and are slowly changing the way we buy groceries, eat out, and cook our meals. According to Dow Jones VentureSource, F&B startups in the US attracted over $1.1 billion in venture capital funding early last year. The food apps phenomenon isn’t just isolated to the United States. Investments from China, India and the UK are also gaining traction, seeking to cash in on what, when, where and how we eat.  Today, we will take a look at several food-related applications that are poised to give us a better dining, wining, cooking, and grocery shopping experience.

Instacart

Essentially, Instacart wants to be your personal grocery shopper. Listed as the number one company on this year’s Forbes America’s Most Promising Companies list, Instacart helps you buy groceries and have them delivered to your doorstep in less than an hour. As of early this year, the company operates in 10 U.S. cities and is valued at more than $2 billion.  Other companies such as Amazon, Walmart and Safeway are also in the process of developing their own delivery system. As these services become more mature, one day we may never have to stand in line at supermarkets again.

Reserve

Reserve promises to improve your overall dining experience by offering reservation and payment services at top-tier restaurants.  The New York-based app charges a $5 flat free every time a customer uses the service, which includes making a reservation and paying the bill.  Reserve currently operates in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco and Chicago. Other apps such as OpenTable, NoWait, Table8 and Settle also offer a similar service. With apps like these, the process of dining out—from making reservation to paying your bills—can be simplified a great deal.

FoodKeeper

FoodKeeper aims to reduce food waste. Launched by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the food app offers storage advice to help consumers extend the shelf life of their groceries. It is estimated that 21 percent of food in the U.S. goes uneaten at the consumer level. The app can also serve as a reminder for users to consume their items before they spoil. In this way, we can save money on groceries and reduce food waste at the same time.

Minibar

The tech industry is awash with food apps that deliver meals, but companies offering beverage delivery services are harder to find. That’s why industry experts see great potential in alcohol delivery startup Minibar. The app allows users to order wine, spirits and beer and have it delivered to them in under an hour. “There’s a huge opportunity with on-demand in this industry because … right now, less than 2 percent of sales is being done online,” said Lara Crystal, co-founder of Minibar, as quoted by TechCrunch. Minibar is not alone. Apps such as Drizly, Thristie, and Drync are also offering a similar service, seeking to tap into the potentially huge alcohol market.

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