Dubai: The future of the food service industry is all set to debut at Expo 2020 this year. Talabat, the home-delivery service, has been named the official food delivery provider for the upcoming world fair and it’s planning to serve up inventive experiences for visitors. This offering will include dishes from 30 brands and 15 cuisines that will be brought to customers using autonomous delivery vehicles, unique food halls and a robotic ice-cream confectioner and barista.
Galal Abdellatif, Director of Food & Beverage, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Expo 2020 will have something for everyone. With food that is central to its multi-cultural experience, visitors will be able to explore exciting global cuisines, without leaving the UAE. We are thrilled to reveal innovative [food and beverage] practices, such as Talabat’s cloud kitchen, which is a key changing trend in the food and beverage industry, and adds diversity and value to the visitor experience.”
A cloud kitchen is a global concept that works perfectly for the world fair, considering all the cuisines that are up for sampling. Tomaso Rodriguez, CEO of Talabat, explained: “Expo 2020 is a beacon of hope for the future and through our enhanced agreement with Expo 2020 we are able to showcase futuristic concepts. Our cloud kitchen concept brings unique advantages. In addition to offering customers a wide choice of freshly prepared foods from many different cuisines, it also minimises waste and makes our food delivery service even more efficient and nimble.”
Through the delivery service, Talabat will connect visitors to more than 30 brands and 15 different cuisines from around the world. The kitchen however will go the extra mile for unlike a traditional cloud kitchen, it will offer a dine-in experience as well. However, delivery is still very much on the menu; visitors can receive their meal at fixed locations throughout Expo’s site; these will be delivered by users on e-scooters.
How can you order?
Visitors to Expo 2020 can order through the Talabat app, which is available on Google Play, Huawei AppGallery or IOS App Store.
The agreement to name Talabat the official food delivery provider was signed at a ceremony with attendees including a delegation from Expo 2020 and Onur Elgun, Vice President – Strategy MENA, Talabat; Khaled Al Faqsh, Chief Financial Officer, Talabat; Yi-Wei Ang, Chief Product Officer, Talabat; and Hanna Nordell, Chief People Officer, Talabat.
Rodriguez said: “With less than 50 days to go until Expo 2020, we cannot wait to showcase the future of food delivery experiences, and support the UAE in welcoming the world to a celebration like no other.”
One of the first events held at a global scale in the post-pandemic era, the Expo 2020 will run from October 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, with more than 200 participants including countries, businesses organisations and educational institutions.
- The writer in an intern with Gulf News.
