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Food safety has always been a priority for you…but the COVID-19 climate has created an unprecedented need for increased safety procedures. As you prepare your eatery to get back to business, make sure you follow local guidelines and take preventative measures to protect yourself, your employees and your customers.
The restaurant industry is a challenging one – but if you prioritise safety and prove your adaptability, there’s nothing stopping you from making a comeback.
Practice social distancing
Close your waiting area
Since you’ll have fewer tables available, consider implementing a reservation-only policy. To minimise wait times and slow the spread, temporarily close your waiting area and encourage customers to wait in their cars or outside – give them a call or send a text when their table is ready. In addition to accommodating social distancing recommendations, a reservation or waitlist policy will prove helpful if you’re anticipating significant volume when you first reopen.
Limit seating capacity
Update the layout of your dining room to ensure there’s an appropriate distance between tables, as per your local governments guidance. If you can’t physically move tables, put a sign on every other table that says ‘physical distance table’ or ‘reserved for your safety.’
Show customers the way
Follow social distancing recommendations by marking the ground with informative floor decals. Use lawn signs or traffic cones if you’re outside!
Minimise contact
Encourage delivery and takeaway
We were inspired by the many dine-in eateries who pivoted to offer takeaway and delivery during COVID-19. Even if your dining room is open again, these services are great ways to minimise contact and slow the spread of germs (and potentially increase business). Make sure to routinely clean coolers, bags, and vehicles used to transport food, and give delivery employees masks and gloves to wear. Encourage employees handling takeaway and delivery to wash or sanitize their hands in between orders.
VISTAPRINT TIP
Offer customers a paper bag to keep their masks in while eating – this way, they don’t have to place them directly on the table.
Try touchless transactions
If customers are ordering ahead, let them pre-pay over the phone or through your website’s online ordering portal. Or try QR codes to display menus. Need a signature? Give each customer a new pen so they can sign, germ-free…and take something home to remember you by.
Introduce single-use items
Prevent the spread of germs with single-use menus, condiments, napkins, cutlery, and tablecloths – these items can easily be discarded after each use.
Keep your customers safe
Communicate ahead of time
Your customers should feel confident walking into your restaurant – so let them know what you’re doing to ensure their safety ahead of time. Create an informative post to share on your favorite social channel, include a note on your new paper menus or go big with a bold banner.
Step up your mask-game
Depending on your location and business type, a mask* might be mandatory on your premises. Even if it isn’t, masks are a great way to reassure customers that your business is COVID-safe. Create a branded version for your employees to wear so they look confident and feel comfortable and keep a pack of disposable masks on hand to hand out to customers who have forgotten theirs.
