About a rant and technology
Welcome to "nouveau monde", a four-handed newsletter to better understand how to make the world better through the lens of retail. This is #52. Yeah, baby...
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Le menu du jour at nouveau monde is about a certain approach of technology. Good and bad. Or the other way around.
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(No) Future of (Fast Food) Whatever ?
by Anthony
You know that with Phil, we’ve been working on the « future of retail » together? Phil still does and in a way, I tend to think that, since I came back to more sustainable matters, I do too.
Yes, I started Mestawet to help companies move to a more sustainable path because I am convinced that it is the future, that we can not move forward as if nothing was happening and that we have to put that subject in the forefront.
Am I the only one ? For sure, not but I've been hit by this report par CBInsights. Do you know CBInsights ? It is a reference in analyzing innovations and trends. I've been following them since a long time and really like their way to analyse and make trends digest. They also often publish infographics of all major and emerging actors on a specific topic. A must-have to do some benchmark and be inspired.
When I read that they made a report on what the fast-food industry will look like in 2030, I was really interested in seing technologies that would make this industry a better place. And I saw... none.
They get into the metaverse, AI that will enable to make new recipes faster and with less workforce, robots that will cook with less workforce, autonomous delivery that will deliver with less workforce (maybe better on that one to get rid of the gig economy...), and NFT loyalty...
The only positive impact listed here is robots that will cook with less energy and generate less waste, but it's seen in an economic point of view.
So, am I the only one ? For sure not, and I know that it's not CBInsight's business to draw a more sustainable path. But, do people know that we are supposed to drop our carbon footprint by about a half (at least in France) and that this kind of future certainly goes out of the path ? Did people realize that last year's gigantic fires in the US were due to climate change, that heatwaves in Europe this summer and fall are due to climate change and that it has dramatic impact RIGHT NOW ?
Do we really need virtual McDonald's or Wendy’s and NFT loyalty program to have a better life ?
Just asking, it’s for a friend.
How to use technology around food safety
by Phil
Technology at your service, Sir!
Veracruz Almonds is an almond producer, processor and distributor based out in Portugal. The company wanted to keep control of their production while developing exports to their distributors and suppliers in the UK and Europe.
They thought of a technology to monitor the entire lifecycle of their production process, from sowing seeds and harvesting, to processing and distribution, providing end-to-end traceability for suppliers, retailers and consumers. It’s quite crucial in a period with constant product calls back because of deficiency, and some other food scandals like the recent Buitoni case in France. Their objective is to get data that could be used to improve production, measure impacts and anticipate problems during the production process.   Cost: 15.3 million euros.
They are using Blockchain on that purpose, QR codes on the product packaging are here to make the extensive and complex supply chain transparent and traceable.
Consumers are also increasingly demanding environmentally friendly food AND beverage packaging made from compostable or recyclable materials, according to a recent Pactiv Evergreen and EcoFocus Worldwide study, which also found that consumers desire more recycling information on containers and view paper-based packaging second only to glass.
Smart packaging is also helping brands build loyalty by serving as communication platforms that allow brands and retailers to interact with consumers, both informing the customers more about the brand and helping the brand glean customer data. Data, the new gold, we know that for decades.
Another example comes with Walmart added AR to its app this summer 2022 that invites shoppers to use their cell phone cameras to scan shelves in-store to garner products’ allergan information as well as whether a particular product is included in a rewards program.
Nothing really new, but years after years, blockchain, AR and stuff are gaining new customers…until it becomes a standard like many other techniques use as a standard in the Retail and CPG industry. Hopefully faster.
Bonus track by Anthony
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