Running a restaurant during a pandemic is a challenging process. Not only are you supposed to sell quality food, but you are also expected to keep your customers safe from the virus. This is a challenge because one instance of carelessness could have your restaurant close down in no time. Remember, we are going through a new normal, and you will need to adopt new ways of business, or risk losing your doors permanently. Here are some tips for making your restaurant ready for the new normal.
1.Establish Pandemic Protocols
When it comes to keeping your restaurant COVID-free, it is important that you establish protocols in your restaurant. Remember that one instance of COVID-19 contamination, and you might have to close your restaurant for a month, and this could be detrimental to your restaurant.
So before you let any customer come into your restaurant, they should undergo a few procedures. First thing’s first, it’s important that they go through a temperature test. If their temperature is higher than 37.5 degrees, then it is your responsibility to refuse them entry.
They should also disinfect their hands, because COVID-19, is usually spread through hand-to-hand contact. So it is imperative that you provide hand sanitizers for your customers. It is also a good idea to implement social distancing throughout your restaurant. Make it a practice to space out your tables at least six feet apart.
When you seat your customers, it is also important that they have one table each. It is also a good idea to install glass screens on your tables, this will further help limit the chances of contamination amongst your customers. Just make sure that you wipe them down with disinfectants after each use.
Aside from these procedures, it is also important that you limit the number of people in your restaurant. The more crowded your restaurant, the more chances there are of an infected person walking in. So it is best that you limit your number of customers to 15 people at a maximum. You might not earn as much if you run your restaurant at full capacity, but it is better than having your restaurant and service workers infected.
2. Disinfect Your Restaurant Regularly
The COVID-19 virus is usually spread through contaminated droplets. So if a contaminated person were to cough or sneeze on your tables or counters, then you have full-blown restaurant contamination waiting to happen. So it is imperative that you disinfect your restaurant on a regular basis. If you are going to use disinfectants to decontaminate your restaurant surfaces, it is important that they are at least 70% alcohol. This will ensure that any bacteria on the surfaces will be killed.
3.Delivery Services Are Key
Aside from keeping your restaurant as safe as possible, it is important that you change your business strategies to fit the times. Remember that a multitude of people doesn’t want to go out of their homes, due to fear of contamination. So it is a good idea to offer delivery services as well.
Even if your restaurant does not usually offer delivery services, it is best that you adopt these business practices. This will not only enhance your chances of making a sale, but you will also help people in dire need of food during the pandemic. Just make sure that your deliverymen still follow pandemic protocols.
4.Mechanize Some of Your Operations
The pandemic has forced a multitude of businesses to change their business strategies. The same has happened to the restaurant industry. Nowadays it is difficult to maintain a good workforce, because if even one person gets infected, then you might run the risk of closing down your restaurant.
So if you are just starting out, and you have yet to hire people, you should think about mechanizing your kitchen. If you have the budget, it is a good idea to use mechanical robot arms for your food preparations. Companies such as EVS offer pick and place robots that can perform a myriad of cooking functions with minimal effort. They are not only efficient, but they will also limit the chances of the virus spreading through your kitchen.
5. Make Sure Your Suppliers Follow COVID-19 Safety Protocols
If you want your restaurant to be as safe as possible, it is important that you get your ingredients from trustworthy suppliers. Although food is not the usual mode of transportation for the virus, there have still been some cases where people got infected through the food they ordered. So if you are going to get your supplies from a farm or livestock dealer, you should make sure that they follow COVID-19 safety protocols to the letter.
Their workers should wear proper PPE equipment while they harvest crops. The slaughterhouses should also decontaminate their workspaces after carcasses are butchered, and their deliverymen should also wear face masks and face shields when they deliver the goods to your establishment.
6.Stay Consistent
When it comes to keeping your restaurant safe from the dangers of COVID-19, it is important that you stay as consistent as possible. Remember that even though there have been some strides in creating a toxin for the virus, it is still very much a threat.
So if you want to help in its eradication, constant vigilance is key. It might seem tiring to be on guard all the time, however, all it takes is a lapse in security, and you might have an infection on your hands. It might take a few years before the whole world recovers from the virus, so until then, just focus on surviving.
Conclusion
During a pandemic, almost all kinds of businesses struggle. So if you want your restaurant business to thrive during the pandemic, you will need to have new ways of doing things. Luckily, with these tips, your restaurant will have a fighting chance.
