sh*t news for restaurants

[21TonyK]

Closing. At least wages will be covered to a degree.

Hopefully the same for their suppliers. I spoke with my fresh produce supplier today and they are very pessimistic.

90% reduction in orders in a week. I suspect that will be 95% after the weekend.

[C70R]

Indeed. Terrible news.

Lots of folks I know and work with are looking down the barrel of a very uncertain future.

Some interesting enterprise has come out of though. Use of Dark Kitchens is through the roof, and some restaurants are converting to takeaways.

[markiii]

maybe the fresh produce suppliers can sell to the public since the supermarkets can;t seem to supply

[C70R]

markiii said:

maybe the fresh produce suppliers can sell to the public since the supermarkets can;t seem to supply

I've seen at least one supplier pivoting to this in the past week and sharing out via social, so you're probably on to something.

[21TonyK]

Frozen suppliers are moving into the domestic market but delivery of fresh wont be economical. Maybe a collection market stall style might help..

[Europa1]

markiii said:

maybe the fresh produce suppliers can sell to the public since the supermarkets can;t seem to supply

Are you being serious?

[C70R]

21TonyK said:

Frozen suppliers are moving into the domestic market but delivery of fresh wont be economical. Maybe a collection market stall style might help..

The fresh supplier I've seen has moved to bundled fruit and veg 'boxes' with three options, and next day delivery in Central London. Very cool.

[markiii]

Europa1 said:

markiii said:

maybe the fresh produce suppliers can sell to the public since the supermarkets can;t seem to supply

Are you being serious?

Totally it's like mad Max around here

[21TonyK]

C70R said:

The fresh supplier I've seen has moved to bundled fruit and veg 'boxes' with three options, and next day delivery in Central London. Very cool.

That sounds good. My fresh supplier is dying on its ass. Sounds llike a good option for them

[PorkInsider]

21TonyK said:

C70R said:

The fresh supplier I've seen has moved to bundled fruit and veg 'boxes' with three options, and next day delivery in Central London. Very cool.

That sounds good. My fresh supplier is dying on its ass. Sounds llike a good option for them

Is there any opportunity for you to do takeaway/delivery, Tony?

I know I'm stating the obvious, and you'll have considered it already, but there are plenty of people out there still with lots of cash available but no will to spend their days now trawling supermarkets for fresh produce to cook a good meal.

[21TonyK]

PorkInsider said:

Is there any opportunity for you to do takeaway/delivery, Tony?

I know I'm stating the obvious, and you'll have considered it already, but there are plenty of people out there still with lots of cash available but no will to spend their days now trawling supermarkets for fresh produce to cook a good meal.

Thanks for the thought but I (hopefully) have dodged a bullet on this one.

I sold my restaurant several years ago and now work in education running and teaching catering so right now I may be facing a lot of admin and prep. time. Will find out over the next few weeks.

[andy_s]

21TonyK said:

Closing. At least wages will be covered to a degree.

Hopefully the same for their suppliers. I spoke with my fresh produce supplier today and they are very pessimistic.

90% reduction in orders in a week. I suspect that will be 95% after the weekend.

My son is apprenticing under a chef at the moment who has had to close 3 restaurants and a cook school, they are now doing fancy take-away's; a month ago it would have been a sure-fire way to go bust but now the landscape has completely changed. Adaption seems key; they were stowed out with orders for their pizzas [perhaps a local effect of supporting business' as well] and now the KP is the delivery driver - there are no restaurants anymore, it's a huge gap. Try to fill it?

[PorkInsider]

21TonyK said:

Thanks for the thought but I (hopefully) have dodged a bullet on this one.

I sold my restaurant several years ago and now work in education running and teaching catering so right now I may be facing a lot of admin and prep. time. Will find out over the next few weeks.

Ah, right. A bullet dodged indeed, then.

Hopefully those who are/were still in the game can find a way through. I will be actively looking to use any of our locals who move into delivery/takeaway myself.

Would be great if plenty of people do the same so we can get through this and still have pubs/restaurants there for us at the other side.

[hotchy]

PorkInsider said:

21TonyK said:

Thanks for the thought but I (hopefully) have dodged a bullet on this one.

I sold my restaurant several years ago and now work in education running and teaching catering so right now I may be facing a lot of admin and prep. time. Will find out over the next few weeks.

Ah, right. A bullet dodged indeed, then.

Hopefully those who are/were still in the game can find a way through. I will be actively looking to use any of our locals who move into delivery/takeaway myself.

Would be great if plenty of people do the same so we can get through this and still have pubs/restaurants there for us at the other side.

Had a takeaway last night. Got to show support where you can. I'll be getting another tonight down the now new takeaway italian lol

[PorkInsider]

hotchy said:

Had a takeaway last night. Got to show support where you can. I'll be getting another tonight down the now new takeaway italian lol

I've never been one for the 'normal' takeaway food, but a decent Italian serving up restaurant quality food for takeaway sounds spot on.

[Monkeylegend]

No reason why local pubs cant do the same.

Order a pint over the phone, walk in to collect, take it home to drink it, wash and repeat.

Drinking and exercise at the same time.

Win, win.

[C70R]

Monkeylegend said:

No reason why local pubs cant do the same.

Order a pint over the phone, walk in to collect, take it home to drink it, wash and repeat.

Drinking and exercise at the same time.

Win, win.

If they were smart, they'd be telling people to bring their own containers. Not sure how W&M Act would feel about that, mind you...

[Teddy Lop]

Monkeylegend said:

No reason why local pubs cant do the same.

Order a pint over the phone, walk in to collect, take it home to drink it, wash and repeat.

Drinking and exercise at the same time.

Win, win.

they could do a circuit, round of drinks & collect empties every 30 mins or whatever.

Favourite local curry house was quoting an hour ten for deliveries even at 6:15 last night (and took it) so must be getting by alright.

[Monkeylegend]

The days of the "Offy" at your local pub could return big time.

They need to be inventive to survive rather than just shut the doors.

[scottydoesntknow]

Monkeylegend said:

The days of the "Offy" at your local pub could return big time.

It’s cheaper to just buy it at a supermarket or off licence. The only reason to buy booze from a pub is the ambience. You can’t go in so that USP has gone.