Restaurants once filled with happy diners are now eerily empty since the global COVID-19 outbreak.

The food and beverage industry, which rely heavily on customers to patronise their establishments, have been badly hit by the current pandemic. Many of them were forced to shut down operations, but there’s quite a number that are able to stay afloat by offering takeouts and delivery services. (And adhering to strict protocols of course!) But how long are they able to keep running their businesses without having multiple streams of revenue?

Let’s take a look at how companies in the F&B industry are coming up with longstanding solutions in order to survive the Coronavirus pandemic.

DIY Crepes

Ravenous, a local creperie joint in downtown Saratoga, is now selling do-it-yourself crepe kits (https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1461317950709778) to their customers. Inside, you will find graham cracker sweet crepes, mini bottles of Nutella and home-made marshmallow cream so you can enjoy making your own delicious crepes during the lockdown. Even after the Conoravirus has passed, Ravenous will still be able to continue selling their crepe kits, adding another steady source of revenue for themself.

Alcohol Delivery

As states relax laws on alcohol purchases, wineries and breweries have started offering home delivery services to the delight of stressful parents in quarantine. This movement, although temporary, is crucial for them to bring in sales and avoid closing down. Thanks to word-of-mouth and social media posts, wineries and breweries are getting new customers who wouldn’t have heard of them otherwise. This, of course, will be great in the long-run even when deliveries have ceased.

#BuyAGiftCard

The nationwide #BuyAGiftCard campaign was launched to encourage consumers to purchase gift cards now from local businesses to be used later. Many restaurant owners have made the hard decision of closing down their outlets, while not knowing when or if they will re-open again, to ensure the safety of their employees. They’ve taken this opportunity to offer gift cards to maintain baseline cash flow and hope business will improve once patrons start dining in again.

Fine Dining in a Box

Down under in Sydney, Australia, Bentley Restaurant and Bar found a creative way to bring their fine-dining experience into their customers’ homes. In their takeout box, you will find 13 different packets to assemble your own multi-course meal. It also comes with instructions on how you can plate your food, and a link to a curated Spotify playlist to complete for the perfect ambience. Post Coronavirus, this is a great idea if you’d like to host dinner parties without the hassle of cooking!

Sharing Recipe Videos

Restaurant owners are sharing recipe videos on social media for their followers who are stuck at home and have resorted to home-cooking. By encouraging people to tag them after following their recipes, they create long-term brand awareness and free advertising. Even huge corporations like Disneyland shared their signature Dole Whip and churros recipes to bring a little bit of magic into our lives.

Restaurant Marketing Tips

If you’re a restaurant owner who’s still hesitant in continuing operations, take these restaurant marketing ideas to inspire you to keep going and be innovative during this crisis.