KENYA- Exhibitors and experts at the Kenyan Food Expo in Nairobi have called on the hotel and hospitality sector to embrace technology to enhance customer experience and drive growth.
The ongoing expo is an annual culinary event that showcases the diversity in Kenya’s food service scene, featuring a wide array of activities. These activities include cooking demonstrations and food tastings.
Exhibitors at the event urged players in the hotel and hospitality sector to adopt new technologies to remain relevant and competitive.
They particularly pointed out the efficiencies that come with adopting such technologies, reiterating it would go a long way in enhancing customer experience and ensure future growth.
Although Kenya’s hospitality sector has experienced significant growth since the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry players argue that innovation is crucial to propelling this growth to the next level.
The East African country has more than 3,800 restaurants, and the number continues to grow.
However, industry players remain optimistic about further growth if value-led technological innovations are implemented in the hospitality sector.
According to economic data from Statista, the accommodation and food service sectors grew by 26% in 2023 in terms of value, representing a significant increase from the 17% recorded in 2022.
The Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) also reveals the hospitality industry is one of Kenya’s top three revenue earners in 2024.
KNBS also projects food production to reach KES1.7 trillion (US$13 billion) by the end of 2026, with beverage sales projected to cross KES450 billion (US$3.5 billion) in the same year.
The restaurant delivery market is also projected to significantly expand at a combined annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.44% from 2024 to 2028. It is expected to reach the KES38.1 billion (US$296.2 million) market volume valuation by the end of the year, with a market volume of KES54.7 billion (US$424.9 million) by 2028.
Angela Kinyua, Portfolio Director of Montgomery East Africa, the event’s organizer, said, “Innovation is key in meeting market demands and increasing revenues for industry players. Kenya has seen a steady growth in restaurants since the pandemic, but needs to leverage Innovation and technology to truly advance.”
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