14 Ideas for F&B Professionals
by Mark Bithrey
April 2020
If Not Restaurants, What Else Could You Do?
Every day I look at my email and my LinkedIn, and every day I read stories of hospitality’s resilience. We have been through tough times, this one however, has knocked us for a six. We’re keeping our chins up though, and have come up with ideas on what you can do with your F&B skills if opening/reopening a restaurant isn’t an option.
1. Quick-service takeaway kiosks
Low on investment, takeaway kiosks could be just what you need to get your delicious food out there to people, save on the costs of running a restaurant, and operate from a lean kitchen. Our clients at Mei Mei do just that. Some of our clients have been making hundreds of thousands every week, by simply switching operations to strong takeaway and delivery.
2. Cold and hot counter restaurants with cool
illustrations on the floor
Think Pret. Think Itsu. They all account for social distancing. If you can come up with a hot amp; cold menu, then put some very cool brand graphics on the floors and walls, you’re sorted.
3. Outdoor seating/pods/distanced picnic tables
Consider heated outdoor seating with pods for higher rates, and picnic tables for lower ones. If you are able to set something up in a garden or park, even better. We’ve been attentively looking at the many creative ways restaurants and pubs around the world are erecting pods in their gardens.
4. Delivery-only kitchens with very cool packaging
Forget the hassle of hiring and training service staff and keeping up a restaurant. Get yourself a kitchen, a team of chefs, and some impactful packaging and photographs. Brownie points for eco-friendly packaging. We can help you set up quickly. See our work for Comptoir, London.
5. Subscription lunches for home-style food
Have you heard of Mumbai’s dabbawalas? The economics of it is beautiful. Think localised kitchens, monthly food subscriptions, full control of daily menus, recyclable steel lunch boxes, and delivery people on bicycles racing your food door to door. Dabba = box, wala = person. The dabbas are delivered daily, and the previous day’s tiffin is collected against the new one. No packaging waste. Forget 25% commissions to food delivery companies – build your own awesome fleet
6. Food trucks near parks where social distancing is not your problem
While you will need all the right permissions, food trucks can be fantastic to operate a lean kitchen, offer delicious food, and keep the social distancing intact. Of course, being Instagrammable helps a tonne. See our work for Champions, Frankfurt.
7. Pop-ups
Simplify your menu, pick the dish that always works, and take it to town. When it’s slow or you need a break, pack it all up! Pop-ups are a great way to realise your F&B dreams.
8. Cookbooks and cooking classes
Could you write a cookbook and share all of your grandmother’s recipes? Could you shoot videos at home and teach cooking classes? You could start your own YouTube channel, use Instagram to your advantage, and blog actively to establish a digital footprint.
9. Drive-through or walk-past and food collection
McDonalds may not be known for food finesse, but it does have quick-service down to a science. Explore walk-past with window collections, self-service, or ordering on apps at the shop/beforehand on phones.
10. Processed food lines - sauces, pastas etc.
With more people turning to cooking at home for themselves, it is a great time to think about food production and starting your own line of sauces, fresh food, or tinned food. We can help with funky branding, recycling ideas, and using the jars/pots for customer engagement.
11. Barbecue kits for the summer
Could you develop and sell barbecue packages that include all ingredients and recipes, that a customer just buys and is all set to go?
12. Parking lot service
Sit in, order from, and eat in your car. If you can find a space large enough to accommodate 20-30 cars, you can bring the service to the customer rather than the other way round. Ordering on an app, staying in the warmth of your car, enjoying a delicious meal with your friends and family – all while social distancing. Or, open up a drive-in cinema.
13. Ice cream vans/churros truck that drives around.
Drive around neighbourhoods (or have an entire fleet) offering ice cream/churros/tacos/anything else your heart desires. Keep away from cash, reduce transfer of touched items with contactless.
14. Catering for small home gatherings
Consider starting a food catering service for family gatherings, birthday and other parties.
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