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Lockdown number three has taken many companies back to square one as they try and navigate around little to no business at all. The foodservice industry in particular has, once again, taken a huge blow, but many are managing to operate with a takeaway only service for now. This is set to be normal for 2021, so it’s important to keep this in mind when carrying out kitchen upgrades or purchasing new equipment.
It’s a struggle for many, but it’s also ‘normal’ as we know it for the foreseeable future. Just how will foodservice adapt to the new normal in 2021 and how can Counterline help foodservice and catering businesses to thrive once again?
COVID-19 protection
Foodservice establishments have been forced to take protective measures for a while – mask wearing, social distancing and regular hand washing/sanitisation is something we’ve all been adhering to for almost a year now, but we’re now coming up with solutions to further protect staff and customers wherever possible.
Protective screens and newly developed equipment are further protecting the public from the spread of the virus, and it looks to continue this way for a long time to come. These measures will only continue and new pieces of equipment and technology will be developed to help us all enjoy the food and dining experiences we all love, but in a safe and risk free way.
Here at Counterline, we’ve introduced our own adaptive solutions to maximise fresh food opportunities. Our dual-purpose heated and chilled display units allow for self-help and assisted service food offerings, making them adaptable to a COVID world and beyond.
Restaurant and kitchen adaptations
Not only is it crucial to ensure staff stay safe when working in a kitchen environment, but also to make some changes to accommodate their guests. As takeaway and collection can be done in a contact free manner, it’s inevitable that this method of dining will only increase in the months ahead, so restaurants and cafes need to ensure they create pick up points or offer a delivery service to customers.
Foodservice establishments will also have to keep in mind how many customers they allow in their premises at any given time, and even put new measures in place for dine-in customers when the time is right. Dining pods and protectives screens will be mandatory to ensure customer safety and comfort.
The future of foodservice
With the rollout of vaccines, it hopefully won’t be long until we can all get back to doing the things we love, but even so, we’ll all be much more careful and aware of the risks for a while. We believe that the foodservice industry will thrive as it once was, even if we do see a change from how things were in 2019. It might take a while to get there, but as an industry, we can all work together to get back to normality.
Looking for the right equipment to get you back on your feet?
As the UK’s leading manufacturer of food and drink display units and customised counters, we want to help get the industry back on track. If we can help with getting your kitchen ready for reopening this year, or need advice on catering equipment to protect against COVID-19, get in touch with us today and we’ll be happy to help: 0151 548 2211.
