The restaurant industry suffered great loss but recovery is in sight
For the restaurant industry, the year of COVID-19 was certainly unprecedented.
The global COVID-19 pandemic, which was declared by the World Health Organization on March 11, has — through a series of alerts, lockdowns and quarantines aimed at slowing the coronavirus’ spread — accelerated change, transformed hospitality and, sadly in some quarters, decimated the industry.
As many as 110,000 restaurants have closed since the pandemic was declared, according to the National Restaurant Association, and foodservice sales have fallen $255 billion in the year since.
“Restaurants now have to figure out what’s the fewest number of things to focus on in order to satisfy their customers and maintain strong sales,” said Bob Johnston, CEO of Tampa, Fla.-based Front Burner Brands, the restaurant management company for the 97-unit Melting Pot Restaurants Inc.