Ordering Food Online? You May Be A Part Of A Megatrend

Ordering dinner through an app feels like a simple, everyday decision. A few taps, and your meal is on its way. But that small action reflects much bigger forces shaping how people live, work, and spend. Urban growth, digital payments, and platform technology all come together in that one food delivery.

Table of contents

• Everyday choices, bigger forces
• The megatrends behind your meal
• What this could mean for investors
• The role of mutual funds
• The big picture

Everyday choices, bigger forces

When more people move into cities, they often face longer commutes, smaller kitchens, and tighter schedules. Add to that the ease of smartphones and online payments, and it’s no surprise that on-demand food has become so common. These aren’t random shifts—they connect to broader global patterns.

This is where the idea of megatrends comes in. Megatrends are large, structural shifts—like digitalisation or urbanisation—that unfold over decades and could reshape economies and societies. Policymakers, researchers, and investors track them because they may influence consumption patterns, industries, and financial markets for the long term.

Read Also: What Is a Megatrend & Why It Matters for Investors

The megatrends behind your meal

The simple act of ordering takeout links to several established megatrends:

• Urbanisation. The UN projects that about 68% of the world’s population could live in cities by 2050, making urban lifestyles and time-saving services even more relevant.
• Digital connectivity. By 2024, about 5.5 billion people (roughly 68% of the world) were online, according to the UN’s International Telecommunication Union or ITU. That connectivity enables platforms to reach billions of customers instantly.
• Digital payments. The World Bank notes that by 2021, two-thirds of adults worldwide had made or received a digital payment—removing barriers to transacting with restaurants and apps.
• Platform economics. A McKinsey study highlighted that the global online food delivery market had more than tripled between 2017 and 2021, surpassing $150 billion. While growth rates change, the structural rise of app-based ordering has been unmistakable.

Each of these megatrends works in the background, nudging consumer behaviour in ways that may last.

Read Also: Megatrends in Investing: AI, Climate & Clean Energy

What this could mean for investors

For investors, the significance of megatrends is that they may create long-term demand across an entire value chain—not just food delivery apps. If the trend continues, possible beneficiaries could include:

• Restaurants and cloud kitchens designed for online orders.
• Logistics and last-mile networks.
• Payment platforms and fintech firms.
• Packaging and cold-chain suppliers.

That said, not every company exposed to a megatrend will succeed. Competition, regulation, and consumer habits might change the outlook, and valuations may already reflect high expectations.

The role of mutual funds

Because it’s hard to pick individual stocks that may potentially grow over time, investors may consider mutual funds for systematic exposure to such themes. A diversified fund may spread investments across sectors benefiting from digitalisation, urban lifestyles, and payments, while a thematic fund might focus more directly on technology or consumer platforms.

The big picture

That takeaway box isn’t just dinner. It’s a window into megatrends shaping daily life: cities growing, more people online, digital money moving seamlessly, and platforms connecting it all. These shifts may continue to influence industries and investment opportunities in the years ahead.

Note: References to any industry/sector are provided for illustrative purposes only. This should not be construed as a research report or a recommendation to buy or sell any security or sector.

At Bajaj Finserv Asset Management Ltd, we aim to harness the power of megatrends by offering investors access to themes shaping the world’s future — from clean energy to technology, innovation, demographic shifts and more. Many of our funds follow a megatrends investment approach to help you participate in these long-term shifts, with a focus on growth potential and diversification. Build your future-focussed portfolio with Bajaj Finserv AMC.

Mutual Fund investments are subject to market risks, read all scheme related documents carefully.

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