Restoration and the coronavirus, not everyone has pulled down the shutter
The confinement has forced restaurateurs to close the doors of their businesses, while waiting for the crisis created by the coronavirus to be overcome, given that many of these companies cannot continue to assume expenses (payroll, rents, taxes, etc.) since they have stopped invoicing.
To alleviate this situation, the Barcelona Restaurant Guild has made available to the sector a model letter so that the restaurateurs can ask the owners of the premises to be exempted from paying rent until the government allows them to reopen. In addition, most of the restaurateurs have decided to process an ERTE (temporary employment regulation file) for the workers.
But there is an alternative to all this. Close the restaurant entrance doors, yes, but not the kitchen doors. Many stoves and extractors are still running at full throttle to serve food at home, usually through delivery companies. This kind of demand is expected to grow over the next few days, as it will be the only option for all those who don't want to go out even to buy food, and don't want to cook either, and also for all those who simply want to brighten up some of the days of confinement with food from their favorite restaurant. The food delivery platform Just EAT has already seen an increase in demand.
For this reason, Glovo, The company, the largest delivery company of this type of service in our country, is currently taking extreme measures to avoid contagion among workers, customers and suppliers (restaurants).
On the other hand, and in view of the serious labor situation that health professionals are experiencing in our country, there have been some companies in the sector that, in addition to continuing to serve private homes, have decided to join forces and have created Delivery4heroes, to send, completely free of charge, food to hospitals and health centers.
This is the current situation in the world of catering in the face of COVID-19. Although, realistically, this is one of the sectors most affected by this crisis, there are always those who are looking for alternatives and even new opportunities, or new lines of business. Whether to take this time as a break, or a hiatus, where only losses are evident, or as a time to squeeze ideas, seek alternatives and improvements for the reopening, only depends on each one.
Let's toast for the latter, and push the former to see that glass half full!
