A new group called the "Save Our Restaurant Coalition" that consists of industry professionals from across Ireland has come up with a plan to support the restaurant industry during the COVID-19 crisis.
The coalition is presenting its plan to the government and political parties over the coming days, and is seeking to help the government to plan a strategy for the post-lockdown period.
Coalition member David Maxwell of Boojum stated, "Restaurants and cafés across the country have realised that returning to normal will take a very long time. The vast majority of restaurants in every city, town and village in Ireland are closed or doing very little business. With overseas tourism effectively stopped, social distancing measures having to be introduced and loyal customers nervous about coming back, it may take two years, or until a vaccine is developed, before we can expect normal trade to resume. Restaurants simply can't survive on 50% of their normal sales."
Plan Details
The coalition's plan calls for the government to support restaurants through direct grants towards fixed costs, directing the banks to deal with debt sensitively and a continuation of the employment supports.
The coalition said that while it would be massive state intervention in a normal time, this would be balanced by increased social welfare payments, and the loss of employee taxes and VAT, if no intervention is made.
Maxwell added, "There are 80,000 families affected by this in the restaurant industry alone. Shuttered storefronts in towns and villages, and small and large businesses built with sweat and passion, will go to the wall if we don't do something."
© 2020 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
