C OV E R S TO R Y
F&B Outlets & The Pandemic F&B outlets – whether they be fine dine, QSRs or bars – have all been adversely affected by the pandemic and have taken various steps to induce the customers to return to their hospitality properties. Adopting measures to maintain hygiene and cleanliness, not only in the outhouse but also in the kitchen, have been a priority in these outlets. Efforts of the management have not only been to assure diners’ health and wellbeing but also that of their employees. Ashok Malkani tries to fathom the efforts of the industry towards this end and also if these trends would continue in the New Normal, that is likely to set in the future.
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es ta u ra nt i n d u s t ry h as b e e n adversely affected more than any other industry, due to the pandemic. According to a report by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) the India food services market shrank by 53 per cent during the FY 2021 compared to the previous fiscal year. This, the report adds, led to a closure of 25 per cent of food business operators. However, organized sector is recovering at a rapid pace and, according to Covid-19 Impact Assessment Report, is expected to increase its share in the food services pie to 54 per cent by 2025, up from 27 per cent in FY 2021. But all this can be achieved only
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if precautions are taken to ensure safety of the dine-in as well as online customers. And having a clean and safe business is one of the top priorities for this! The customers have become extra co n s c i o u s a b o u t t h e h yg i e n e b e i n g maintained in the F&B outlets. Restaurants’ cleanliness expectations, today, are higher than ever, at every stage. Though there have been some relaxations in restrictions imposed on food & beverage outlets the restaurateurs are conscious about the hesitancy of the diners to visit restaurants like they did in the prepandemic days. It has become important for the F&B outlets to maintain hygiene
Hammer Food & Beverage Business Review
and cleanliness at every stage.
Hygiene in Outhouse Pandemic has created an enigma for the restaurateurs who have to make it obvious to the clients about maintenance of hygiene and cleanliness in the premises as soon as they enter it. Yaman Rai, Director of Food & Beverage, Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach and The Bheemili Resort managed by Accor, states “There is a daily cleaning schedule in place along with regular sanitization of restaurant tables before every guest is seated. We ensure areas are properly disinfected and necessary checks are
Dec-Jan ’22
