The unexpectedness of coronavirus has caused many of us in the food and beverage industry to prevent in our tracks as well as pause for a minute. We thought at first it was a temporary hiatus in life as we identify it, in the way we meet people outside our home with friends and family over drinks and dinner.
As people adjusted to the new reality, bars and restaurants had to rapidly decide their next move. Many were hesitant and firstly closed, though others began expanding their services to take in deliveries, mini-groceries, take-out, and meal kits.
When the economy reopened, it was clear that new health and safety protocols were to be implemented, and there was a new requirement to address as well as allay customer fears about dining out. Here are 5 dining-out trends we hope to see in a post-pandemic society.
Communication and Transparency
The first trend in dining-out is heightened consumer awareness of safety and sanitation. Hotel companies must aggressively demonstrate adaptation to the new security protocols and concurrently, communicate this to consumers always.
It will be important to make sure that staffing teams feel safe returning to work as well as that customers feel safe frequenting a restaurant. Cleanliness must be visible always, and protocols must be openly posted on a company’s website and on the site for all to see. For more details, visit: https://www.enjoygojijuice.com/how-cbd-can-help-you-achieve-your-fitness-levels/
Creativity and Innovation
Several restaurants have introduced service extensions like supply and take-out options, in addition to pop-up grocery stores during this Pandemic. And there’s no purpose for that to stop when businesses reopen. The restaurateurs who have paid for it by providing meals to necessary workers during this time stand out.
Other creative endeavors that have emerged during the virus include the rise of subscription services, in which customers can request an iconic market box that includes various vendor items for pickup or delivery. Despite the pandemic, or perhaps because of it, innovation has exploded.
Contactless Technology and Virtual Presence
Contactless ordering, paying, and picking up is one more dining-out trend that we hope will continue for the foreseeable future as customers continue to practice social distancing. Meanwhile, the necessity to be contactless has intensified the virtual presence of companies.
During this pandemic, from virtual happy hours to meetings, many restaurants have turned to set up virtual tip jars to help gain some relief for their employees. Robotics and job automation will become more common in restaurants and bars as the requirement for contactless experiences as well as social distancing continues.
A Collaborative Community
The restaurant community is tight-knit. Many restaurant and bar owners have been sharing their playbook with each other during these uncertain times. The industry has come together to help each other from launching relief funds within days of closing to sharing best practices for packaging as well as delivery.
Several have even referred their own laid off or licensed employees to others who wanted help setting up their knowledge to take online orders or raise their presence on social media.
Reset
The outlook for dining out can be very dissimilar from now on. For example, communal tables and shared menus can disappear. Several have interrogated the permanence of the buffet, but with proper warranties and the elimination of self-service options, while maintaining extensive options, the buffet can be changed to survive in the future.
Dining out will stay to be an experience people want, but that will differ by demographic. The restaurant’s physical layout is likely to be redesigned to emphasize greater social distancing, and alfresco dining with fresh air could become the norm, alongside take-out and home delivery. As a result, restaurants may require a smaller footprint, and eating areas could be converted to shared spaces, such as a dining room. Click here for further details.
