The Covid-19 pandemic, which caused the closure of restaurants and food businesses across the globe, had one of its biggest effects on the hospitality industry. One of the first industries to feel the force of the pandemic was restaurants, whose business model largely depends on social eating out. In fact, around 70% of the revenue of several famous restaurant groups comes from delivery and takeout.
Even before the pandemic, restaurants had to change tactics to adapt to the way people wanted to eat. In 2019, the industry changed from ‘meet me in person' to ‘stay at home' and ‘order what I want' – a shift that was accelerated by the pandemic.
As a business, we were well prepared for the shift to ‘stay at home' – having already implemented a ‘meet me in person' model at our Costa Coffee shop in London. We adapted our approach to fit the new era, putting in place processes for online ordering and delivery, and offering customers the chance to order and pay for their food without leaving their home.
Why a food-only website?
Our food-only website was born out of necessity. We were one of the first businesses to be hit by the pandemic, so it was important for us to stay closely aligned with government best catering dubai guidelines. The industry also changed, with many chefs and food businesses closing down as a result of the pandemic. In an effort to keep our staff working, we needed to find a way to keep our customers coming back for more while limiting the number of people working in our company – so delivering food online became an obvious choice.
How does it work?
Our website is a marketplace, connecting customers and local businesses, allowing them to discover and order food without leaving their home.
Businesses can list their menus, details of the food and the service, as well as provide customers with the opportunity to review their services and pinpoint any potential drawbacks. Customers can then discover a variety of local restaurants, choose what they want, and prepare to eat.
Before the pandemic, we would have carried out all of the restaurant-related business through our traditional face-to-face outlets. However, as the pandemic showed us, technologies like online ordering and delivery become essential. If someone in another part of the country wants to eat at a specific restaurant, they can't necessarily go there in person. So being able to order and pay for their food from the comfort of their home, or office, becomes highly desirable.
Keeping up with the times
The world of food is constantly evolving with new trends and technologies emerging to enhance the dining experience. It's important for businesses to keep up with the times to ensure they provide the best possible service to their customers. We're always looking for ways to improve our offering and make ordering and paying for food simpler and more convenient for our customers.