To this day, the longest running drive-thru is In-N Out Burger, originated in Los Angeles, California and opened in 1948. With much success, we see drive-thru as a way for customers to quickly and effortlessly pick up food and other services without having to leave their car.
With the current corona virus crisis, we are seeing an increase in Drive-Thru services. Why? Well, it’s mainly due to the fact that indoor dining and gatherings of large groups of people is prohibited in order to combat the virus. This can be extremely eye opening for the future of the drive-thru industry!
What will happen Post-Pandemic? Consumers are now realizing how much exposure they have to germs and viruses in their everyday life and will likely adapt to similar trends seen during this crisis to avoid human contact. The pandemic won’t disappear overnight and social distancing can become a new norm for the long run. It is very likely that consumers will grow fond of drive-thru, delivery and take out services not only for the ease but for safety purposes.
What does this mean for business owners? It may be a good idea to potentially shift your business model to adapt to this change and expand in to a drive-thru model, delivery and take out industry (if applicable).
This concept can also be valuable for cities to explore as it can become a critical source of consumer traffic for local businesses.
It can be hard for businesses and cities to adapt immediately, however this is a long-term trend.
