Startups are growing at a phenomenal rate in the Philippines, and the food tech industry is no exception. Considering the growth of the country’s population, as well as rising incomes, the Philippine food tech industry is projected to surpass over $12.5 million USD in 2020 and around $12.9 million USD in 2021. Competitive local and national food delivery companies are started and launched frequently, and the boom in Philippine tech allows entrepreneurs to employ more creative business models. Here are some startups changing the food industry in the Philippines.

Good Meal Hunting

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Image courtesy of Facebook

Good Meal Hunting is a unique food tech startup that extends beyond simple restaurant-to-home delivery service—Good Meal Hunting connects home-based cooks to hungry customers in Metro Manila. This startup empowers home-based cooks with the logistical and technical help necessary to manage a food business outside traditional restaurants, including providing containers and coordinating delivery services. Good Meal Hunting is popular among homesick expats who seek food from their home countries and also offers catering options for larger gatherings, parties, and company events. Co-founders Lance Uriel Pormarejo and Warangkana Fajardo have plans to grow Good Meal Hunting beyond Metro Manila and expand its services to the greater Southeast Asian region.

The upcoming food tech startups in Southeast Asia

Delivery Guy

Launched in 2018, Filipino-owned Delivery Guy is joining the busy market to take on foreign-based food delivery giants Grab, Honestbee, and Foodpanda. Users can place orders through the app in both Android or IOS, their website, or over the phone. This food tech startup offers real-time order tracking, intelligent search options, recommendations through human interactions, and multiple payment options including PayPal, credit cards, and cash on delivery. Delivery Guy guarantees a delivery time of 60 minutes or under within a 3-kilometre radius, fully insulated meals that arrive still warm or cold, and no distance limitations. Delivery Guy’s prices are a bit higher than its competitors because entrepreneurs Neil and Finia Castillo aim to attract steady employees who provide a consistent service.

LalaFood

Highly-rated LalaFood offers food delivery services throughout Makati City, Taguig, San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig, and Quezon City with plans to include the rest of Metro Manila. In partnership with over 800 restaurants, LalaFood doesn’t require any minimum order and guarantees a delivery time of 45 minutes or less in the heavily-congested Philippines. This food tech startup operates daily from 10 AM to 11 PM and offers real-time tracking for its users. While LalaFood’s only payment option is cash on delivery, new users can enjoy three free delivery coupons, and participating restaurants offer discounts and deals through the app. 

Mangan.PH

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Image courtesy of Facebook

Mangan.PH is an online food delivery service app that services Pampanga, the Culinary Capital of the Philippines. In partnership with over 100 restaurants, this startup guarantees a delivery time of 60 minutes or less and accepts payment via credit card online or cash on delivery. Mangan.PH prioritises speed and efficiency for its users with its intuitive and straightforward interface. The food tech startup was founded by young entrepreneurs Louie Alcantara and Ralph Nathaniel Rile. Alcantara is a Pampanga-based tech-entrepreneur with over 50 websites in his portfolio. Rile graduated from the University of Asia and the Pacific with a degree in Entrepreneurial Management, and owns a nationwide manpower agency.

Booky

Founded by Englishman Ben Wintle, Booky is a unique app that enables users to search for restaurants offline. This food tech app allows users to access the contact information for over 15,000 restaurants and menus for over 9,000 of them in Metro Manila. While usable offline, the Booky app automatically updates its restaurant directory when it detects an internet connection so users will have access to the newest eats available. Booky also offers Booky Prime, as well as the Booky Prime free trial, that allows users to reserve seats at partnered restaurants. A subscription to Booky Prime includes discounts and deals at participating restaurants and curated recommendations. Booky Prime also aims to promote education in the Philippines by promising at least three school lunches for Filipino children through its partnership with meal programs ARK and Kusina Ng Kalinga.

Which startups are combating food wastage in Southeast Asia

With technology transforming the landscapes of all sectors, Philippine restaurants and foodservice providers are quickly adapting to meet users’ needs. Disrupting the traditional food industry, technology will continue to play an increasingly essential role in how people eat. Whether through tried-and-true delivery services or delivery-based ghost restaurants, Philippine-based entrepreneurs are utilising technology to introduce creative solutions and opportunities in the Philippines.