Restaurant Industry Dwinds More Often Than Expected. The news media, and consumers, are becoming accustomed to restaurant disasters and restaurant closings of late. However, the number of restaurant closures has been relatively low across the nation. Still, that doesn’t mean that staying organized isn’t important.
Staying informed about the latest happenings in the restaurant industry can provide crucial information needed to avoid a crisis in the near future. There’s a need to understand the overall trends in the industry, and the changes that take place over time. By keeping up-to-date on current events and issues in the restaurant industry, the owner and chef can better manage food safety concerns and prepare for any potential crises.
Restaurant Employment Is declining nationwide. Even in regions where restaurants are doing well, there is a noticeable decline in employment for waiters and other serving staff. While there are many reasons for this, perhaps the most common is that fewer restaurants are focusing on takeout. Those restaurants that do takeout are experiencing fewer job losses and more full employment levels.
Staying Organized in Case of a Crisis Many restaurants have implemented some type of food-safety program, but they are not always fully effective. In the case of a global pandemic, it’s hard to enforce standards across the board. If there is a problem, how can the staff members get the information across? The answer may be that they have to make themselves available to the other restaurant employees and chefs. It’s impossible to work effectively if there is a breakdown in communication.
Collaboration Needed Across Units When outbreaks occur and spread, restaurant owners and staff members need to work collaboratively to limit the impact. Collaboration requires that everyone works together to keep the kitchen, dining room, and main production area clean and safe. In the case of a pandemic, the cohen disease did not spread quickly or easily. It took the combined efforts of several different dining room workers to make sure that everything was cleaned up properly and sanitized prior to the public being allowed back into the facility. Collaboration requires that each of the business units work together to ensure that the threat isn’t sustained.
Business Interruption In the case of a business interruption, the previously mentioned decline in takeout sales might affect one restaurant, but ripple effects could effect others. When a restaurant closes, the loss is felt throughout the entire establishment. A small family-owned restaurant may experience a loss in sales when an existing customer or two stops ordering their meals. Even larger restaurants that serve many clients can experience a similar situation.
Cost Reduction It costs money to operate a restaurant. Depending on which services you provide, you might be able to offset the cost of a portion of your employee’s wages by reopening a few of your takeout menus or possibly selling items off the kitchen equipment. This can help you save money during a period when customers are paying attention to the possibility of a pandemic.
There are a lot of great reasons why restaurants should reopen. Not only can you benefit from increased sales and the opportunity to pay for more employees, but you can also reap the benefits of better location and access to other consumers. With the proper marketing and promotions, you can expect to see a positive return on your investment when you reenter the industry in full strength. When you take advantage of all these opportunities, you can be sure that you will be able to come back in style.
Contingency Plan Those who have had success reopening restaurants are fully aware of the need to create a contingency plan. In the case of a global pandemic, this means preparing menus and even providing canned goods and water. Other potential contingencies include creating a stock of food, organizing a clean-up plan, creating a stock of drinks, and even getting customers to donate their unused goods. While it may seem impossible to be fully prepared for an international disaster, restaurateurs should not forget that they have learned from history and that the threat of a pandemic does not mean closing down forever.
Reopening Restaurants In light of the current situation, restaurant owners must always evaluate the risks associated with operating during a time of pandemic threat. The first thing to remember is that restaurants have long since operated successfully despite having to deal with difficult situations. Even though it is still impossible to predict what might happen, there are things restaurant owners can do to increase their chances of staying operational. In addition to the necessary services such as cleaning and sanitizing, food preparation workers should also be on their toes. For example, if a restaurant has taken on a large number of takeout orders in a short period of time, it is best that the wait staff is capable of handling at least a couple of simultaneous orders without getting overwhelmed.
If you own or manage a restaurant and would like to take part in a reopening plan, there are a number of options for you. Whether it is a new location, a renovated old one or a repositioning of an existing operation, restaurant owners need to act fast if they wish to avoid the possibility of suffering financial hardship during a crisis like the recent flu outbreak. There is no denying that restaurant reopening is often less expensive and time-consuming than starting all over again from scratch, but the most important consideration is the quality of service your business is providing to customers. If you are planning to reopen a restaurant, follow these tips so you can be sure it will be able to survive a tough situation.