Published on 20/07/2017 by Any Business

Waiter-less Cafe Latest Development in a Booming Industry

What is being billed as Australia's first fully-automated takeaway cafe restaurant, where customers place their order via touchscreen and receive their items via conveyor belt, is up and running in NSW.

At Hey Zeus in Newcastle, health-conscious meals arrive from the kitchen in impersonal brown paper bags, in what has been dubbed as "guilt-free fast food".

But, unlike most quick-serve outlets, Hey Zeus has a menu that is close to 100 per cent organic and locally sourced.

Every meal comes with white or brown rise mixed with 25 per cent quinoa, with fresh salads and meat and vegetarian options.

You build your own wrap or bowl on the iPad and, two or three minutes later, it arrives on the conveyor belt.

Hey Zeus is yet another positive step for Australia's robust cafe and coffee shop industry.

The country's love of fast and healthy food and quality coffee has supported the industry's growth over the past five years, with industry revenue expected to grow by an annualised 7.0% over the five years through 2016-17 to $8.2 billion.

Resilient consumer demand for quality and convenient food and drinks has fuelled the industry's success.

Positive trends

An increase in family and work commitments has driven demand for industry products over the past five years. Many consumers are living busier lifestyles, leading to greater demand for fast and convenient food and dining options. Industry operators have taken advantage of this trend, providing more on-the-go items and focusing on fast, efficient service.

Coffee culture

Australia's vibrant coffee culture is a key factor for industry success. Coffee is generally considered an affordable luxury and a daily ritual. An emphasis on quality across the industry has led independent coffee houses to grow at a faster rate than coffee chains, which have largely declined over the past five years. Additionally, demand for quality coffee has boosted demand for rarer blends, fair trade coffee and organic coffee.

Operators can charge a premium price on all these products. Coffee culture has translated into higher revenue, and sustained demand for cafes and coffee shops over the past five years.

AnyBusiness

Curtis is a leading expert in the business-for-sale industry, serving as a senior content creator at anybusiness.com.au.

With a career spanning over fifteen years, Curtis has accumulated extensive knowledge in the domain of business sales, acquisitions, and valuations. His deep understanding of market dynamics and his ability to translate complex industry jargon into accessible insights make him a trusted resource for entrepreneurs and business owners looking to buy or sell businesses.

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