Effective ways to attract customers through effective safety tips and guidelines.
The world is turned upside down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People are no longer roaming on streets without any purpose. It has caused the air of uncertainty to linger amongst all the business owners.
In this grave situation, how can restaurant owners keep running the restaurant without sabotaging the safety of their customers?
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has laid out comprehensive guidelines for food businesses, employees/food handlers working in food establishments to prevent spread of COVID-19.
Let’s take a look at food safety guidelines for restaurants in simple words.
Why are safety measures a must for the restaurant industry?
As per the research from various medical laboratories and institutes, COVID-19 does not transmit through food. However, this should not stop you from taking the utmost safety as it can be transmitted through objects and physical contact.
Effective safety measures are also required for other reasons such as:
- To ensure restaurant hygiene in food and the ambience
- To prevent contamination in food and water
- To reduce complaints about unpleasant dishes
- To prevent any kind of infection, mainly COVID-19.
- To increase work efficiency with a clean and tidy workplace
- To improve overall restaurant appeal
Thus, food safety guidelines are the backbone of any successful restaurant.
Effective Restaurant Safety Measures
It is easy to follow safety measures, once you get used to them. We will help you figure out which safety measures to follow in the current situation, to make the road to success easier for you!
Encourage employees to wash their hands more often
Nothing is easier than washing hands to ensure safety and maintain restaurant hygiene. Washing hands repeatedly can help your employees get rid of unwanted germs and microorganisms that contaminate the food, utensils, as well as the delivery parcels.
The employees should wash their hands before entering the kitchen, before starting to prepare any dish, between preparing various dishes, after eating a meal or taking a bathroom break, after the billing process, after cleaning the restaurant, and lastly, after exiting the restaurant.
If time permits, encourage them to follow a 5-step approach.
Send your employees home if they show any COVID-19 symptoms
It is necessary to send any staff member, showing even mild symptoms, to his or her home.
These symptoms may include coughing, mild fever, fatigue, sore throat, or other symptoms that you can check out here.
If you do not allow your employee to stay home, it can pose a threat to you and the other employees. It also exposes your customers to the virus. In the worst-case scenario, it can severely affect the well-being of the affected employee.
Hence, it is very important to stay empathetic and understanding in the COVID-19 world.
Safe delivery and serving measures
A major boost is given to the online ordering and delivery services in the pandemic.
So, practicing safe delivery measures becomes a prerequisite. Let’s take a look at how it can be done:
- Social distancing
The first and foremost step to adhere to food safety guidelines is social distancing. Social distancing should be observed at all times.
- Disinfecting
It is also important to disinfect the delivery package to ensure proper hygiene and safe delivery.
- Wearing mask
Wearing a mask is the new normal. You can also get your restaurant’s customized masks for increased branding!
- Contactless delivery
The delivery person can drop the parcel on the customer’s doorstep to ensure contactless delivery.
Go contactless
Customers, all over the world, are preferring contactless alternatives as opposed to traditional ones.
You can also take safety precautions by choosing contactless options. This can be done through:
- QR-based Menu system
QR-based menus are easy to scan and use. As they’re completely digital, they reduce the risk of physical contact. There are some amazing benefits of having a QR-based Contactless Menu.
- Online ordering services
Customers prefer online food delivery services these days considering safety measures and precautions.
You can start your own online ordering and delivery services using Grubly.
- Contactless delivery options
Contactless delivery does not involve physical contact with the customers and is a safe alternative.
- Digital payments
Instead of using hard cash, it is preferable to use digital payment these days.
You can encourage your customers to use digital payment with various deals and offers if payment is done through credit/debit/other cards.
Maintain social distancing
Social distancing is an important step for all business owners and staff.
It should be strictly maintained at all times. Be it in the kitchen, while taking orders, cooking, serving the food, or even while delivering it. Social distancing is the latest norm and should be followed effectively.
Let your customers know about all the precautions
Once you have followed all the safety and hygiene precautions, do not hesitate to put it out to your customers.
You can share it in the following ways:
- By highlighting it on your online ordering app or website
- Posting it across social media by sharing pictures or clips
- Putting a board outside your restaurant
- Paid advertisements
This can allow your customers to know about all the precautions you are taking for their safety.
Conclusion
These effective safety precautions will allow you to grow your customer base once again and increase your profits without any extra costs and inputs.
Thus, all you need to have is a little patience and optimism to wait for the customers to contact you once again!
