COVID-19 celebrated its birthday recently. With more and more people getting back to work, businesses have started to resume again. However, has there been a change with how food businesses operate? Here are our observations.
Shift Or Venture Into Online Business
According to the New Straits Times, Malaysia ranks fourth in terms of the top overseas countries purchasing from China on 11.11 by gross merchandise value.
In another article, published by The Edge Markets, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) targets there’ll be a 1.5% increase in ‘Buy Malaysian’ sales for 4Q this year
In other words, whether you are selling food or items online, the general assumption is that online business is booming in Malaysia! Now is definitely the time for food businesses to diversify, build an online presence and produce products that can be sold online. Even us at Kaijia Muslim Food recently established our Shopee store.
The fact that online businesses do not require you to pay rent and high overheard costs make it an attractive approach to market your products to targeted customers.
Pivot & Embrace Food Delivery Services
Staying at home with nothing to eat? Sick of eating the same old thing? Tired of thinking what to cook? Don’t have the interest or desire to cook? Food businesses! These are your target customers!
Based on an article published by The Star,
“Food delivery companies are experiencing brisk business as more people heed the call to stay safe at home.”
“An increasing number of e-hailing drivers are also opting to deliver food and other items to take advantage of rising orders from work from home customers.”
Engaging the big players like Grabfood and Foodpanda would be the easiest way to get your food known and delivered to the vast public, though we have to highlight that it’s not the only way.
Other alternatives include to come up with your own delivery mechanism, like Kitchen Goheung and Captain Shrimp, and engaging the local food delivery companies and riders in your city.
Roll Out Takeaway & Pickup Services
This is pretty clear-cut. Customers order their food in advance and they’ll come and do the pickup at your restaurant. No delivery guy needed. It’s basically pre-booked takeaway food.
Revamp Food Business Operations
Businesses need to comply to SOPs set by the Malaysian government and the same goes for food businesses and operators. Here are the steps to ensure your food business operations could run smoothly:
- Allow customers to scan the MySejahtera app or record their details in a log book.
- Sanitize the restaurant.
- Provide quality hand sanitizers.
Additional measures:
- Add partitions and space out seating arrangements to encourage social distancing.
- Reduce seating capacity.
- Start a subscription programme, like MDT Apron three-day meal plans and Pop SELECT by Pop Meals.
To fellow food business owners, although 2020 hasn’t been a smooth sailing year for most of us, it doesn’t mean we can’t make the best out of it. There’s always a way to turn things around. We just need to keep trying. Hope these little steps could help you get back on your feet.
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