January 29, 2021 at 9:45am
The food service industry is in survival mode this winter, as COVID-19 cases remain high in Fairfax County and around the U.S.
Increased flexibility for outdoor dining operations, along with a greater emphasis on takeout and delivery services, helped sustain many restaurants during the summer and fall, but the chillier weather has made convincing people to eat or drink outside a trickier proposition.
The National Restaurant Association reported in December that sales had dropped by $2.2 billion or 4% in November from the previous month and were expected to decline further over the winter. Overall, the food service industry has seen a nearly 20% drop in sales compared to business pre-pandemic.