Jared DevWhat a Year!
If you have ever worked in the food service industry then you understand the daily grind. It has always been a tough business to be a part of, but since the beginning of 2020, it became a lot more challenging. The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way people function in their everyday lives. The food service industry was arguably one of the heaviest hit industries during this time. Restaurants all over continue to adapt to the ever-changing landscape to survive.
Good Help is so Hard to Find
If you ask any restaurateur, hiring quality help has always been a struggle. The ever-revolving staff door is all too real in the food service industry. Throw in a global pandemic, extraordinary layoffs, and unprecedented unemployment payouts and it makes it almost impossible to recruit and maintain a solid crew. Whether restaurant establishments are looking to fill an executive chef position, a busboy spot, or anything in between, the challenge is ever-present.
For some, the staff scarcity forces food establishments to be open fewer hours cutting into revenue. For others, the current staff is forced to work even more long grueling hours than normal to make up for absent employees. It’s a vicious cycle of not having enough business to support current operations and not having enough staff to keep the business running at a normal rate.
Digital Presence
It’s hard to believe that in 2021 some businesses, restaurants included, either have no website or a shotty one at that. A well-laid-out website with a great user experience is essential for every restaurant these days. Customers want to be able to easily locate their preferred eatery ahead of time for numerous reasons. Checking hours of operation, skimming through the menu, and being able to place to-go orders are all reasons customers visit these sites. A website is also a representation of your brand and a way to get your name out there. The challenge lies with being able to spot the trends and being willing to adapt.
Food delivery services like Uber Eats and DoorDash are booming due to the initial lockdowns and the aftermath of people just getting used to staying home. Restaurants should be tied to all these food delivery platforms to keep up with the times. While the food service industry is not inherently digital, restaurants got on board with doing more business online to keep up.
Where’s the Beef?
It used to be that you would order your produce from one purvey, fish and meat from another, and all was right with the world. Now everyone is struggling with supply chain delays and missing products. Typical ingredients that were never scarce are now suddenly hard to come by. It’s challenging for eateries to keep certain items on their menu due to these setbacks. The way to not only survive but thrive during these times is to think outside the box and use the resources you are given to overcome these challenges.
High Food Costs
If the food isn’t scarce then it’s scary expensive. Among all the other challenges 2021 has brought skyrocketing food cost is yet another. According to the USDA, food-away-from-home prices were expected to increase between four and five percent this year. As we look ahead to 2022 they are predicted to go up even higher. This either forces you to take items off the menu or increase prices dramatically.
Final Thoughts
Those in the food service industry understand the trials and tribulations that come along with the profession. It’s never been a business for the faint of heart. The challenges of 2021 should be looked at as opportunities. There will always be a light at the end of the tunnel for those that get creative and innovative during times of adversity.