Raising Cane’s founder and CEO Todd Graves predicts many of the restaurant industry changes made due to coronavirus will stick around long after the virus fades.
Graves says the industry is notorious for having workers come in even when sick, and that’s unlikely to be the case going forward. He also pointed to additions like sneeze guards in drive-throughs…
“You might have a customer who has a cold or has the flu coming through and you don’t need that for your own crew members,” says Graves.
Graves adds sanitation and food safety practices implemented during this time are also likely to be maintained due to public demand.
Restaurant dining rooms are closed and takeout orders are now booming. Graves says once the tables open back up he expects many customers will keep these new habits.
“Curb-side delivery is going to be a really important format going forward and I think that restaurants are not only going to pick up their dine-in business but their take out business,” says Graves.
Graves says Cane’s is back to full projected sales but many restaurant owners he talks to who don’t have a drive-through are at about 50 percent. He says long-term the biggest fear is the economic collapse that could follow this economic shutdown.
“The recession that can come after this won’t help any business but especially restaurant businesses that get hit pretty hard during a recession,” says Graves.
Graves made the comments on Talk Louisiana.
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