Africa on the go

Abstract

Paper presented at the 30th Annual Southern African Transport Conference 11-14 July 2011 "Africa on the Move", CSIR International Convention Centre, Pretoria, South Africa.Food is an essential biological requirement, without which no human life is possible. In addition to being a biological necessity, food has also grown to infuse all aspects of human culture and society. The recent (post-modern) definition of food incorporates factors relating to cultural, environmental and ethical values. In spite of the recent economic downturn, it is evident that the disposable income of many South Africans has risen appreciably over the past decade. A consequence of this is their ability to spend relatively more on refined styles of eating, and 'eating out' has become more common across many cultures and communities. Consumers have also grown more demanding and no longer rely purely on seasonal foods. In additional, the constant development of new technologies has made it possible to purchase foods from every corner of the globe and at any time of the year.