In response to the ongoing COVID-induced onslaught on the restaurant industry, McCain Foodservice Solutions is calling on restaurants to make a “Dishruption” of their own. Complementing the assistance provided by McCain in the last year, the global food service provider has launched the “Dishruption Challenge”, an initiative that affords participants the opportunity to win one of 10 restaurant support packages worth R50 000 each.
The impact of the global pandemic on the restaurant and hospitality industry is undeniable and will be felt for years to come, as the industry works hard to rebuild itself. Restaurateurs are finding themselves in an ever-changing environment and have been forced to adapt at a rapid pace. In addition to the focus on health and sanitation, one of the biggest adjustments was moving from indoor dining to delivery, a business model which has become crucial. There has also been a drastic reduction in trading hours and indoor seating capacity, the latter causing a hurdle especially during winter months.
Over the past year in particular, McCain Foodservice Solutions has been working to provide support to operators through various initiatives. This includes the provision of toolkits to help restaurateurs navigate the requirements of the different lockdown levels, and launching SureCrisp™, a product specifically aimed at providing the crispiest chips for delivery, in a time where takeout was the only option. In addition to this, McCain joined “One Meal Many Thanks” – an initiative which saw food service suppliers rally together with the aim to save 1.8 million jobs in the industry through a variety of tactics, including the provision of free stock and a campaign to encourage and incentivise consumers to eat out.
“Despite the massive disruption brought on by the pandemic, the foodservice industry has been facing the COVID-19 crisis with great courage and resiliency,” says Catharina Bester, Marketing Manager: Foodservice & Retail. “Adapting to and embracing this disruption is simply the only way to bring life towards relative normalcy; providing offerings that keep customers satisfied and restaurants profitable. As a manufacturer in this new reality, we’re committed to helping the industry stay ahead and build back stronger.”
It is for this reason that McCain Foodservice Solutions has launched the Dishruption Challenge – to help the foodservice industry get back on their feet – and they’re calling on all independent restaurateurs to get involved.
The Dishruption Challenge is aimed at independent restaurant owners, who for the last year have had their lives and businesses disrupted, challenged and threatened. To participate, entrants need to create a dish containing at least one McCain product, add it to their restaurant’s menu, price it accordingly, and sell at least 20 of these dishes before the competition closing date, 30 June 2021. Ten winners will be selected, and will each receive a support package, valued at R50 000.
This initiative is part of McCain’s ongoing mission to support restaurants, not just through its best-in-class products and sales support, but also through the provision of globally-recognised commercial insights and tools. As such, McCain Foodservice Solutions launched its Insiders Club, through which professionals in the food industry get free access to the latest industry trends, business tips, inspiration and resources. One such resource is McCain’s Restaurant Resilience Toolkit, developed to assist those in the food industry in navigating through the Covid-19 crisis and adjusting to a ‘new normal’. It provides simple and practical tips to make small and profitable changes to menus, safety tips, menu inspirations, a guide to improving take-away and delivery offerings, and more.
According to Bester, “The foodservice industry has approached the COVID-19 crisis with agility, resourcefulness and perseverance. At McCain we want to do all that we can to assist operators in building businesses that are smarter, more efficient, yet realistic for the long haul. We encourage all independent food operators to join our Insiders Club and partake in the Dishruption Challenge. We’re in it together, and together we can emerge stronger on the other side”.
For more information about the Dishruption Challenge and Insiders Club, visit https://mccain.co.za/sa-foodservice/insiders-club/