Westfield Sydney launches new app “Eat on Time”

Posted by AFN Staff Writers on 25th August 2014

Shopping centre company Westfield has launched a mobile phone app that allows diners to pre-order and pay for their food purchases. Diners can then skip the queue when they pick up orders from 17 retailers in Westfield Sydney’s food court including Din Tai Fung, Charlie and Co, Chat Thai and Snag Stand.

Developed by Westfield Labs and currently piloting at Westfield San Francisco, Westfield Sydney is the first Australian centre to trial the app. If the trial is successful, use of the app may be expanded to other Westfield locations across Australia.

Westfield Sydney is operated by the Scentre Group, which was formed when Westfield Retail Trust merged with Westfield Group’s Australian and New Zealand businesses on 20 June 2014 to form a new entity.

“Thousands of people buy their lunch at Westfield Sydney each week,” said John Batistich, Director Marketing at Scentre Group. “Our research found that 84 per cent of city workers hate to queue and we’re confident Eat on Time will improve the dining experience for shoppers and give them back a few extra minutes to enjoy their lunch break,” he said.

“Eat on Time offers a diverse range of cuisine from premium food retailers and a technology solution for shoppers that allows for a quick, easy and convenient food experience,” Mr Batistich said. “This is another step towards better connecting shoppers with our malls and retailers, across any digital device at any time,” he said.

Research conducted by the Scentre Group found that workers spend on average one third of their 36-minute lunchbreak waiting for food. The Scentre Group said the Eat on Time app was designed to help people save time, avoid queues and “bring lunch-hour joy”. The Scentre Group survey also revealed that:

Four in ten admit to saying something they regret at work when in a ‘hangry’ (anger and short temperedness caused by being hungry) state
One third of survey respondents think about paying someone to get ahead in the lunch line
90 per cent of those surveyed report having a better day if they eat a meal they really want
One quarter of people consider lying about a medical condition to jump ahead of others

About the study

Westfield commissioned research included in this release through independent research agency, Lonergan with a sample of 507 Sydney CBD workers aged 18-64 years old who buy their lunch at a take away restaurant at least once a month. Fieldwork commenced on Wednesday 2 July and was completed on Wednesday 9 July 2014.

How to Eat on Time:

Download Eat on Time from the App Store, or access it online via westfield.com.au/food
Register with name, email address and securely store credit card details
Browse the full menu from 17 food retailers at Westfield Sydney including Din Tai Fung, Charlie & Co, Jones the Grocer and Snag Stand
Order and pay securely
Receive a text message once food is ready
Jump straight to the counter for collection

Eat On Time restaurants include: