Unilever Food Solutions (UFS) and GCash for Business brought together food, technology, and consumer trends at the Future Menus 2026 Food Trends Adventure, highlighting how digital payments and ordering technologies are reshaping the dining experience.
Held at Foro de Intramuros, the event transformed the venue into a food crawl featuring dishes from 15 merchants. The experience was based on UFS’ Future Menus 4 report, which identifies four trends influencing the future of dining: Culinary Roots, Street Food Couture, Borderless Cuisine, and Diner Designed.
The event also marked the first-ever cashless Future Menus experience, with GCash for Business serving as the exclusive payment partner from ticketing through transactions at participating food stalls.
Digital tools were integrated directly into the food crawl. Guests could use Scan-to-Order to order and pay from their location instead of lining up at merchant booths. GCash for Business also showcased its SoundPay Plus device, which accepts multiple payment methods and provides instant audio confirmation when transactions are completed.
According to Kate Cruz, B2B Marketing Head of GCash, 60% of food and beverage transactions in the Philippines are already digital, while one in five diners use an e-wallet such as GCash to pay directly. However, she noted that more than 56% of merchants remain digitally underserved, highlighting the need for businesses to adopt payment technologies alongside consumers.
The food crawl demonstrated how technology can complement evolving food trends, from digital ordering and cashless payments to more seamless interactions between restaurants and diners.
The Future Menus 4 report is available for free through the UFS website, while GCash for Business offers digital payment and business tools for food establishments and other merchants.
