How Restaurant Businesses Adapt to the New Normal
As confinement limitations start to lift in several areas throughout the nation, eateries are setting the stage to recommence their business, always in agreement with regional and state health authorities. Implementing numerous novel health and safety regulations, from mounting acrylic sneeze shields at the counter to maintaining an ample supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), is on the cards for restaurants in the near future.
For numerous restaurants, the news of reopening descended rapidly, leaving business proprietors scrambling with limited time to devise viable and safe return protocols.
Surviving in this emerging normality necessitates a radical strategy overhaul. Luckily, several steps are available to the food service industry to secure their continuity after reverting to operations.
Though we cannot say it's the same status quo we are accustomed to, this is a progression towards a novel normality for a future ahead. As such, it's crucial for restaurants to effectively convey their new protocols, ensuring that both the staff and consumers' safety are prioritized.
Five Approaches Restaurants Can Apply in the New Normal
Initiating a Screening Procedure for Employees
A universal remedy to help businesses recover from COVID-19 is probably non-existent; nonetheless, a great starting point for all is the formation of an employee screening process.
This entails coherent guidelines, guaranteeing uniformity in executing the procedure for all employees as they return to work daily. Not only does this confirm the fitness of employees returning to work, but it also plays a role in curbing the spread of the virus.
Establishing a Specific Take-Out Area
The COVID-19 outbreak has propelled many restaurants to consider offering take-away services. With several online food ordering platforms and mobile delivery apps, take-out has emerged as a more feasible choice for many restaurant owners.
Setting aside an exclusive area for food prepared for pick-up not only verifies health precautions but also enhances work efficiency.
Social Distancing in Dining
Restaurants will also have to adjust table placements in their dining rooms to adhere to proper social distancing recommendations for all their clientele. This could involve distributing tables and seats six feet apart and installing physical barriers alongside tables, enhancing customer safety.
While this is a fresh challenge, your endeavor to assure guest safety is extremely important to patrons who feel safe enough to return to restaurant dining.
Revised Hygiene Measures
From countries that have managed to control the COVID-19 spread, new hygiene protocols have proven rather successful. Case in point, some restaurants mandate temperature checks for staff members at work arrivals and enforce handwashing every hour.
In support, the CDC has issued several hygiene recommendations for restaurants to enact, elevating customer assurance. This involves the strategic placement of hand sanitizers and PPE dispensers across the restaurant, alongside regular sanitation of high-contact areas like tables, door handles, menus, and condiment zones.
Novel Food Trends
Salad bars and buffets were once iconic dining elements, but new health and safety regulations have nearly abolished them for the next period.
Servers are now urged to hand-deliver food straight from the kitchen to the tables. Similarly, ready-made salads and customized meal orders could appeal to patrons who wish to enjoy their prior favorites, now prepared by their favorite chef.
Stay Alert for Swift Changes
While it may take some time to devise long-term solutions for several eateries, one efficient way to keep your establishment functioning is by keeping your employees prepared all the time.
Besides preparing your staff for COVID-19 safety protocols on food safety and symptom identification, arrange for masks, gloves, and other necessary PPE for all, including those who may not interact with customers directly.
Implementing proper signage across your restaurant can provide employees and customers visual reminders to maintain social distancing and respect safety measures.
The new safety protocols affect every employee, and detailed steps should be undertaken to guarantee their safety. As a business owner, it's your duty to sustain a safe and healthy workspace for anyone who enters your establishment.
By formulating a thorough and safe strategy before your restaurant's reopening, you can ensure that your business is taking the necessary precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Restaurants form an essential part of our local communities, and in due course, the food service sector will recover. However, for now, adaptability is key to remain operational in the new normal.
With the challenges brought forward by COVID-19, you can prepare for any long-term impacts that might transpire in the future. At DANONI, we strive to assist you in crafting a secure and healthy environment for your patrons and employees alike. Our focus at DANONI lies in ensuring your restaurant's safety at all times for customers and workers.
Connect with DANONI to converse with a customer support representative and uncover how we can outfit you with the best safety equipment at reasonable rates!