How to Manage Your Food and Beverage Business During COVID-19
Shelter-in-place orders across the country have pushed food and beverage businesses to make difficult decisions about if and how they operate. From coffee shops and food trucks to Michelin-star restaurants, many are adapting their models to best serve their communities and their employees.
We’ve compiled tips – whether you’re still serving or you’re closed and need to maintain cash flow – as well as industry resources to help you manage your business right now.
If you’re looking to shift your business model
Ramp up curbside and delivery
Many food and beverage businesses are shifting to curbside pickup and delivery to continue serving their communities. If you’ve never provided those options before, there are a couple of ways to set them up: You can work with partners like Cuboh, or you can quickly create an online ordering page and then enable curbside pickup or local delivery.
Create meal kits to sell online
Many people are now working from home, feeding their kids every meal and trying to avoid crowded grocery stores. So why not make it a little easier for them by creating meal kits? You can post about meal kits for pickup or delivery on your Instagram, or include it in an email to customers. The fastest way to get started is to offer meal kits through an online store.
Become a bodega
Sell what you have in stock – and not just prepared items. People are waiting in long lines at the grocery store for pantry items like flour, eggs and toilet paper; you can help them avoid those lines by selling from your own supply via an online store.
Serve drinks to go
Some states are allowing off-premise alcohol sales so that restaurants shift toward being local neighbourhood marketplaces. If that’s an option where you are, serve drinks to go while still limiting the number of customers in your space to comply with social-distancing best practices. Check with your local authorities for temporary rule adjustments during this time.
Market what you have
Things have changed, and they’ve changed quickly. Send your customers an email (and use whatever social media you use most) to let them know what you’re still serving and when or if there are other ways they can support your business and employees.
If you’re closed until further notice
Promote digital gift cards
Electronic gift cards can help increase cash flow while your business is closed. You can quickly set up an online ordering page for gift cards and then promote them to your loyal customers – who want to show their support.
Create a donations page
It’s hard to ask for help, but we need to come together as a community now more than ever. You can create a donations page on your website or online store to ask your neighbours and regulars for assistance.
Sell merchandise online
If you have T-shirts, mugs, tote bags or other merch, encourage people to buy them now when you need the revenue most. You can sell online via an online store, email or social media.
Support your staff
Many restaurateurs face impossible decisions right now about laying off staff. We’ve compiled resources for employers that can assist you in navigating those decisions.
