In a time when social distancing and no contact have become a priority, brands are revisiting an old concept popular in the the US in the 1900s: food lockers. Though some fast food companies were already considering it as a delivery-take away option before covid-19, the current pandemic has highlighted its potential. 

Among others, KFC, Burger King and Smashburger have introduced food lockers in dedicated stores. These function similarly to any other delivery lockers (such as mail or Amazon ones) and come in a variety of options: cold or hot, some even with UV light to kill bacteria. Customers can order (usually through special apps) and pick up the food or delivery drivers can use lockers to place orders.

It is evident how such a system offers an interesting alternative to reduce  personal interactions (with  staffs or waiting in line with other customers) to a minimum. Thus, KFC has been trialling food lockers at some of its Japan restaurants: customers order via phone and receive a code to enter in a pad to collect the food from the dedicated lockers. The brand also offers the possibility to pre-order and pick up later. 

Burger King is similarly planning to test food lockers in 2021 in Miami, Latin America and the Caribbean as part of a broader store redesign plan – with stores selling their products through food lockers, conveyor belts or directly delivered to the customers’ cars.