Innovation in online food delivery: Learnings from COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced some restaurants to shift their business models to innovative approaches in Online Food Delivery (OFD) services. This paper seeks to study the impact of innovations on OFD -new product/ services- that aim to enhance the experiential value when ordering food online. Moreover, this paper analyses the willingness to order food delivery online during the COVID-19 pandemic. An experimental design survey was therefore used. The participants assessed one out of four OFD innovation options, its experiential value, and their own willingness to order it. Participants' fear of COVID-19 was measured and used as a moderator variable. A conditional process analysis was used to reveal that innovation in the OFD business can increase the experiential value for the consumer, but this effect should be examined in light of customers' fear of COVID-19. Managerial implications and future research lines are suggested.

Automated summary

This study focuses on the impact of innovation on online food delivery services, observes consumers' willingness to order during COVID-19, and finds that innovation can enhance consumers' experiential value. Meanwhile, the moderator variable fear affects this effect.