The pandemic has shaken some foundations we might not have imagined. Safety and trust in other people have changed. Mostly for the better, but what has the pandemic done to our serving practices?

The routines that remain

1. Hygiene and safety

We've become accustomed to seeing hand sanitizer bottles and clean surfaces, and guests expect cleaner environments and good cleaning practices. Make sure to keep it neat and tidy, and clear tables, counters, and buffets a little more frequently than you did before the pandemic broke out.

2. Take-away solutions

New serving solutions, such as take-away, have been the salvation for many restaurants, and have given businesses more legs to stand on. Even if not everyone continues with the same form of serving in the future, more places will have the mechanisms in place to get started with an alternative, more infection-friendly serving.

3. Contactless and profitable

You may have risen on the same wave that many other restaurants have in the past two years: seeing the benefits of digital ordering, with QR codes, apps, online solutions, and collaboration with third-party vendors. Many businesses will continue to do this, for the sake of accessibility, visibility, profitability - and to keep happy customers.

4. Well-thought-out security

The pleasant sharing dishes you had on the menu in the winter of 2018, and the traditional mistletoe you hung on the Christmas table a couple of years ago, may not be as popular anymore? The serious pandemic has made us look with new eyes at our own serving routines and how we communicate with guests.

5. Take care of each other!

Has the recent times changed anything interpersonally in us? The hospitality industry has been our uncrowned kings and queens throughout the pandemic. Despite tough times, it is generosity, patience and care that greets the guest on the restaurant threshold. Some restaurants have also been engaged with their customers on social media; streaming concerts and keeping motivation up. The values we have created through difficult times have perhaps made the guest appreciate even more that we are finally back up and running?

3 potential reasons why fewer people will eat out after the pandemic:

New working routine: Many will continue to work from home. Food on the go and lunch meetings with colleagues will decrease.
Economic reasons: People want to save money.
New home habits: More people have become more skilled in the kitchen and want to cook healthy food at home. - And many will still avoid large crowds

- Therefore: Take-away is still very relevant!

(Source: deloitte.com (USA))

Digital eating habits

"Everything" happens online

The pandemic would not have been the same without the internet. It is accessible and easy: Favorite food can be clicked home at any time. - But digital guests can be demanding! Now the guest wants both, and the service should be quick and efficient. With just a few keystrokes, customers can receive everything from ready-made dishes to semi-finished meal kits and drink mixes. Right now there is little indication that people will stop testing out the possibilities. If we are to believe all post-corona predictions, this trend will continue, and even new concepts will emerge. Some may offer half-baked pastries, such as pizza and bread, which the customer bakes at home, or offer exciting "to-go" tasting menus.

The whole world in your pocket

Digital maps for finding places to eat and restaurants were important before the pandemic. Now there really is no way around it, especially if you run a place where out-of-towners dominate the guest list. So make sure you are robust and visible digitally. Tripadvisor, Google Ads, Facebook and Instagram are platforms where potential guests take it for granted that they will find you. - If you lay a good foundation here, and have good routines for response and updates, you will definitely see results in the near future!

The new everyday life