By: Natasha Archary
Coming on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic, drive-thru retail may have changed the future of convenience.
At a time when just about everything was shutdown including restaurants, businesses needed to improvise and do it quickly in order to stay afloat.
From curb-side pick-ups, to bringing you meals like drive-in diners did back in the day, to opening a drive-thru, many retail, hospitality and even supermarkets had to rethink their business models.
Because people needed to have a quick-fix solution to getting their food, drinks and other daily items with minimal contact and exposure to Covid-19, drive-thrus were a win.
One restaurant chain in South Africa that introduced a drive-thru was Spur and it revolutionised convenience in an instant.
The popular family steakhouse opened its first drive-thru franchise in Pretoria in June 2021.
Competing with other takeout brands, Spur offered customers an alternative which may have just changed the game for food retail in the country.
On Kaya Drive this Wednesday, the team wanted to know which store you’d like to see introduce a drive-thru.
The future of retail
In America, drive-thrus are the norm, with most popular fast-food and retail outlets, offering either curb-side pickup or a drive-by option.
Starbucks, McDonalds, Burger King, KFC, Krispy Kreme, Walmart and Target are a few of the brands that offer the convenient service.
Not only is it a matter of convenience for the public, but as a business-owner it makes for a more affordable business.
The more orders that run via the drive-thru, the smaller the store needs to be, which could mean saving on operational costs and monthly business rentals.
Usually, a drive-thru cuts down the service time for a patron compared to walking in to place your order. This means a shorter waiting period which boosts overall customer experience which can help with returning clientele.
Listen to the conversation on Kaya Drive:
Also read: Feel Good: Having the “period conversation” with your daughter



