Are Modular Marketplaces the New Must-Have Amenity?

Barbara Castiglia

June 1, 2021

Alchemista

Barbara Castiglia

bespoke meals

Christine Marcus

+more

Food is serious business. Now, on The Main Course, host Barbara Castiglia will invite insiders on the front lines of food to share their expertise, strategies, and forecasts for navigating the ever-changing restaurant industry.

Food lockers for modular marketplaces were already becoming popular before the pandemic accelerated adoption of the concept and technology. To discuss this emerging sector of the food and beverage industry, Barbara Castiglia welcomed Christine Marcus, founder, and CEO of Alchemista. As a premium curator of food, beverage, and lifestyle brands, Alchemista offers on-demand modular marketplaces for everything from temperature-controlled chef-prepared meals to unique sundries and snacks in residential buildings and offices.

“We wanted to change the paradigm of what accessibility means from hours to seconds” – Christine Marcus

According to Marcus, the move to modular marketplaces isn’t just a trend brought on by the pandemic, but a key part of the future of the food service industry. Customers are looking for short wait times and accessibility in the most efficient way possible. “We wanted to change the paradigm of what accessibility means from hours to seconds,” Marcus said. This is a game changer in terms of convenience. This approach to on-time food service is also more sustainable as it reduces packaging and the number of deliveries typically associated with prepared meals.

Alchemista deploys its modular marketplaces in universities, commercial buildings, and luxury high-rises, bringing bespoke meals from their own kitchens and high-end restaurant partners. Marcus sees an amenity race happening in the residential apartment sector and building managers and real estate developers are Alchemist’s primary customers as they look for innovative ways to stand apart from the competition. “This is the new up and coming must-have amenity that basically puts a marketplace at the fingertips of their residents,” Marcus said.