Restaurants and Bars: Brilliant Ideas to Beat the Crisis!

Food: Bars and Restaurants React to the Crisis

A worse crisis could not humanly be imagined: the coronavirus tsunami has overwhelmed the restaurant, tourism, and culture sectors, among the cornerstones of the so-called Italian system. While the food sector is already seeing interesting ideas—which we'll explore in this article—to at least partially stem the devastating effects of the perfect wave of Covid-19, the tourism and culture sectors also seem to be lacking in initiatives aimed at promoting economic recovery. Or at least, to stimulate a reaction of pride, a strong signal of presence and participation. The "zero turnover" effect, should the government-imposed lockdown on public establishments continue, could quickly overturn the very balance that underpins Italy's prosperous restaurant sector. Many bars and restaurants will struggle to reopen; this is a sad reality, although at the first signs of an end to the emergency, we are certain that Italians will return to enjoying and frequenting them, with enthusiasm and passion, as they always have in the past. But today, courageous, solidarity-based initiatives are urgently needed to provide a lifeline to bars and restaurants, in addition to the measures implemented by the government.

The Risto-Bonds

Among the most interesting innovations are Risto-bonds (or Dining bonds), which allow you to book a dinner today, paying a certain amount to the restaurant, which will actually be consumed, discounted, at the end of the emergency.

An example? Let's say you buy a dinner and get a 25% discount, valid for 60 days (the discount and the terms are obviously up to the business).

These are minimal, but acceptable conditions for a struggling restaurateur: thanks to this breath of fresh air, he will be able to guarantee his employees and suppliers a certain amount of peace of mind in the short term.

From the customer's perspective, this offers a twofold benefit. First, it allows them to demonstrate genuine solidarity with their favorite restaurants , creating a bond of trust that will be personally appreciated in the long run. Furthermore, the financial benefit for the customer is significant . Let's say a couple dines out regularly, say twice a month, spending between €100 and €200 in total. Since they currently lack the opportunity to enjoy their favorite gastronomic specialties, by purchasing a Risto-bond, the couple would maintain their "investment" in that sector, but with a significant return "premium." The only risk for our customers is the reopening times: it's impossible to determine today when and if a restaurant will reopen .

DiningBond.com

The Risto-Bond initiative began in the US and quickly spread to Spain and Italy. Through the DiningBond platform, a previously nonexistent bridge has been created between supply and demand. Participating restaurants, located via GPS maps, showcase their offerings or provide a contact for purchasing the bond.

"Save your Bar"

Global beer giant AB-InBev , the world's leading company with over 500 brands (including Stella Artois, Corona, Leffe, and Becks), has launched a similar initiative: " Save Your Bar ." The goal is to provide consumers with an easy-to-use tool to help their favorite bar, closed due to Covid-19. By accessing the portal for free, consumers can make a donation to the bar and receive a gift card that can be used when the establishment reopens. Whatever the contribution made by consumers (vouchers available from €10 to €100), AB-InBev will match the amount the bar receives by 30%; within approximately three weeks, the total financial support will be paid into the operator's coffers during the closure period. The goal is to raise at least €500,000 to support Italian bars , providing them with vital resources during the closure.

I promise to return.it

Another brilliant initiative, dedicated to struggling businesses, is Promettoditornare.it . Born from an idea by Domenico Genovese , Head of Digital at PHD Media, and Raffaele Negro , the website Promettoditornare.it aims to help favorite restaurants and businesses now by purchasing a discount voucher or coupon that can be used as soon as they reopen. Business owners—restaurants, bars, or shops—register on the platform by filling out the appropriate form. Once their identity is verified, the business will be added to the database and made visible on a map. Users can then purchase a voucher to use when they reopen.

Place of the heart

Also supporting closed restaurants is the " Posto del Cuore " initiative, created by Maria Beatrice Casarosa and Adriano Aquilani. This initiative also uses a free platform to allow customers to support their favorite restaurant. Purchased vouchers can be used upon reopening, with a significant discount. Customers will also be able to take advantage of discounts offered by the restaurant, such as the popular dining bonds, and help the "Posto del Cuore" restaurant weather this crisis.