MUMBAI: The F&B industry and local restaurant businesses have been severely impacted amidst the nationwide shutdown to help reduce the spread of COVID-19. With an annual turnover of Rs 4 lakh crore, the industry could potentially hit total bankruptcy as it fights a long and hard battle against basic survival. India's food services industry currently employs around 7.3 million people. If lockdowns continue, 20-25 per cent of the employee-base could lose their jobs.
The subsequent financial crisis triggered by the lockdown has made it extremely tough for restaurants to pay for expenses, rent, salaries & more. To help them navigate through this turmoil, India’s largest dining out and restaurant tech platform, Dineout has introduced “Restaurant Vouchers” that customers can purchase now and redeem later when the pandemic subsides. Dineout has also started an online petition requesting the government to support the restaurant industry via employee unemployment pay cover amongst other restaurant needs as requested by NRAI.
Restaurant vouchers can be purchased via Dineout on supportrestaurants.in available in Rs 1000 denominations that can be redeemed in the next 6 months. Dineout will transfer the funds to the restaurants at no additional charges to ensure that restaurants continue to receive the crucial cash-flow to survive these trying times, and food-lovers get discounted coupons from their favorite eateries in town.
Customers can now buy these vouchers at a discounted price now at 20,000+ partner restaurants like Plum by Bent Chair, Whiskey Samba, Lord Of the Drinks, The Wine Company, Sly Granny, Mamagoto, Kobe sizzlers, Chopstick, Gilly's Resto-Bar, & more.
Beyond financial support from customers, Dineout has also started an online petition to support NRAI on change.org, requesting the Finance Ministry and Government of India to help restaurants with employee unemployment pay cover, a moratorium on upcoming statutory dues, delay in utility bill payments, holiday/temporary stoppage on EMI payments & interest, freezing rental dues & restoration of Input Tax Credit on GST for all restaurants.
Speaking on this industry first initiative, Dineout co-founder and CEO Ankit Mehrotra said, “Being a restaurant tech solution, we at Dineout have always believed in a restaurant first approach to help our partners with solutions in times of need. While we are encouraging our diners to stay home despite financial implications on us, local restaurant businesses need our support more than ever as they face severe losses. They closed their operations for our safety, it's time for us as a community to support them now so they can continue to serve us tomorrow. Restaurant Vouchers are a great way to keep the momentum of cash flow steady for restaurants without any additional charges from us. We urge food-lovers across the nation to do their bit for the restaurants they love and also sign the petition for the government to hear our voice.”
