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Jul 31, 2024

Due to COVID-19, which has caused numerous food companies to shut their doors, some are rapidly adapting to accommodate their staff, earn income, and deliver quality goods and services to their customers. It can be overwhelming to suddenly move business models and operational processes online, however it is feasible for businesses regardless of size.

First Choice changed their operations in less than 24 hours

First Choice, based in London offers a variety of specialty foods for the hotel and restaurant business, which includes Michelin stars and fine dining restaurants. They usually do.

With many of their restaurants that were closed for a time due to COVID-19, they put their food online and began delivering directly to homes. And thanks to their agency, Incremental Marketing Incremental Marketing  the ability to achieve this in only 24 hours.

"How's the turnaround time?" Incremental Marketing wrote, "In less than 24 hours, we've put our customer up with an online store! To tackle their problems and reduce the load on the supermarkets, they're able to deliver fruit and veg boxes and a broader number of other products. Big thanks to and Themes Kingdom for their efforts to make this incredibly fast turnaround feasible."
box of food from First Choice with fruit, vegetables, and eggs
Photo (c) https://www.firstchoiceproduce.com/

They now sell everything from fresh fruit and vegetable boxes as well as dairy products, meat and nonperishables and deliver them directly to the homes of shoppers. In addition to providing an income stream for them but it also allows customers to stay home and out of the grocery store.

The store's online presence was so well received the store was so well-loved First Choice had to upgrade their hosting to cope with their sales volumes. They're serving around 800 customers each day. Additionally, they were mentioned in an Marie Claire article on food delivery service.

What are a few keys that will ensure their successful?

These products are easy to locate.

When basic kitchen items become more difficult to come across at the supermarket Shoppers need to be aware of whether the online retailers have what they need right away. First Choice lists product categories in both the sidebar and main menu, along with the search bar. Someone looking for eggs will be able to locate eggs in a matter of minutes.

Recommended products listed beneath an individual product page
Photo (c) https://www.firstchoiceproduce.com/

They also display related items on the bottom of every page. When duck eggs have been gone, customers is able to check whether chicken eggs or goose eggs are on the market in lieu, and without needing to go away from the site.

They have a fast check-out option.

pop-up payment option thanks to Stripe and Google Pay
Photo (c) https://www.firstchoiceproduce.com/

They give delivery information.

It's a brand new method of grocery shopping -- it's likely that consumers will have questions. First Choice links to delivery information both in the footer and header. It also provides:

  • The speed at which they ship their goods.
  • What happens if customers can't be home at time of delivery.
  • Which areas do they serve.

This helps answer many queries before they're ever asked and provides valuable transparency to clients.

They promote through Facebook.

As they're now selling to a different demographic -- individuals, rather than restaurants -- First Choice invested in advertising through social media platforms, particularly Facebook. Their ads delivered incredible results and have been a large part of their fast success.

Boka changed to online ordering and curbside pickup

Boka is a Balkan restaurant located in Kuopio, Finland, that provides simple and delicious food with the deep Mediterranean roots and a rich taste. With over a hundred five-star reviews, they're beloved in their community.

plates of food at Boka on a striped placemat
Photo (c) https://www.ravintolaboka.fi/

But because of recent social distancing regulations, they faced empty tables and financial losses. In less than an entire month, they have changed processes, partners, and food options and continue to grow their business.

They utilized WordPress and to create an online ordering site with choices for curbside pick-up or food delivery. Now, loyal customers can enjoy their favorite dishes in their own dining rooms while new customers will be enticed by their cuisine and decide for a reservation for the near future.

"It has opened a new avenue for us to operate," Dzafce said, "We didn't have an delivery service prior to. Sales have not dropped dramatically because of the pandemic and our clients are happy."

Here are just a few of the ways they've make this transition successful:

You can order online on their website.

Boka home page with colorful photo and buttons for online ordering
Photo (c) https://www.ravintolaboka.fi/

If someone goes to their site The first thing they see are the buttons to order online and phone ordering. If the customer is looking to determine if they're currently serving food the answer is immediately apparent and straightforward to make an place an order.

They offer multiple ways to obtain food.

At checkout, clients are able to choose curbside or delivery. What is the significance of this? Certain people might not be able to leave their home for any reason and want to receive food delivery. Some may be away for essential work and want to take their order. It will satisfy the requirements of their customers.

They have a range of payment methods.

They also include photos and descriptions of the menu products.

Food is visual and we consume food with our eyes first. That's the reason why Boka offers high-quality images of each of their food dishes. They also provide clear descriptions of each dish, its primary ingredients, as well as the main flavors, so that customers know what to be expecting when they take their takeout container.

The company sells gift cards.

gift cards for sale on Boka's site
Photo (c) https://www.ravintolaboka.fi/

Eden East offers contact-free pickup for customers

Eden East is the only true farm-to-table restaurant located situated in East Austin, Texas. Every month, the chefs create the menu for the season based upon ingredients from their own farm as well as other farm and ranches. The dining experience is served outdoors at community tables under a gorgeous elm tree -an unforgettable experience!

Bowl of food at Eden East in a white dish
Photo (c) https://edeneastaustin.com/

The idea of community dining (and eating out as a whole) isn't an option right now. They decided to market vegetable bags through their website. They offer the option of seasonal herb and other vegetables. There are two available size choices -- a small bag contains four to six items and an enormous bag holds seven to nine items and buyers can select the produce they like by browsing their site.

veggie basket from Eden East
Photo (c) https://edeneastaustin.com/

We'll take a glance at some others they're implementing:

The company offers add-on items and gift cards.

Similar to Boka, Eden East offers gift cards on their website, and customers can give their support to the business using either the physical or digital cards. Not only do they sell gift cards with standard amounts such as $50 and $100, they also offer "Dinner with Two" and "Dinner for Two" with Gratuity" cards, which eliminate the hassle of the gift-giving process.

Eden East add-on products
Photo (c) https://edeneastaustin.com/

When a customer checks out, they're shown a the option of adding on items such as pickles, hot sauce and preserves. This is a great way to remind people there are more choices offered and boost the number of orders (and aid shoppers in filling their shelves).

Customers are updated on social media.

In addition to announcing new products on Instagram but they also highlight products in social media stories that feature happy customers happy to receive fresh food -- which is a fantastic method to show the social proof of your business and to encourage purchases.

They offer no-contact pickup, and allow for easy scheduling.

At the time of checkout, they can select both the date of pickup and the time they prefer. This helps Eden East get orders ready at the right time and makes it easy for shoppers to get food on their schedule.

To keep both customers and employees healthy and safe Pickup is totally non-contact. When shoppers arrive at the farm, they will be directed by a sign that directs customers to a pavilion. There, they'll be able to find a bag bearing the name of their choice.

J.W. Lopes changed its business model from wholesale to direct-to consumer

J.W. Lopes supplies restaurants, grocers, and institutions with high-quality products from all over the world. They've served the Massachusetts region for more than 100 years and are passionate about their ability to serve customers at any time of the day.

As the whole industry was changing and changing, the company had to figure out a way to make money and help their community. Their new website, New England Country Mart is a marketplace that sells food items as well as meat, dairy and much more, directly to customers in the Boston area.

New England Country Mart product box with fruit and vegetables
Website created through Chairlift. Photo (c) https://newenglandcountrymart.com/
The owner Jeff Kotzen recently explained, "Because of the epidemic, all aspects of the sector was affected. It was day by day, trying to survive and it took a couple weeks to put this idea together but, when we got there, things started to click. Over the past four weeks, we've had around 1000 active clients and we are currently having 4500 clients waiting on the waitlist. We're hearing great feedback and have partnered with local businesses as well as part of our aim of helping local companies in the same situation."

What are some of the ways they're excelling?

They let shoppers know about the waiting list right away.

New England Country Mart pop-up notice
Website designed with the help of Chairlift. Photo (c) https://newenglandcountrymart.com/

Once someone is on their website, they are greeted by a pop-up greeting them and notifying them about the waitlist. Customers can either log into their existing accounts or sign up for the waitlist without needing to look for details.

They help their clients as well as the communities.

New England Country Mart sources its products from local businesses They also donate their products to the Restaurant Strong Fund that helps restaurant employees facing closures due to COVID-19. The majority of these eateries are their own clients.

They create blog posts that can be helpful.

New England Country Mart doesn't only sell items and services; they also teach their customers how to make of their products. In addition to information about the origins of specific ingredients They also share recipes and other tips via blogs and social media, like a delicious caprese salad recipe made with their sweet heirloom tomatoes and the family strawberry-rhubarb crispy recipe to make with fresh fruits. This recipe helps customers make the most of their food and shows how much they care about customers.

They offer a straightforward check-out process that is customizable.

New England Country Mart Shop page with products listed in a grid
Website developed by Chairlift. Photo (c) https://newenglandcountrymart.com/

Every order is automatically accompanied by the produce box that is at the core of what they offer and offers vital immunity assistance to customers. Customers can then include a variety of additional products, including chicken and eggs, gourmet breads, prepared meals and artisan breads. They can select a delivery date and have the items shipped (for no cost!) straight to their front door. The process is simple, however it allows customers to buy precisely what they want. They integrate their store with HubSpot to sync all their customers and orders to keep them engaged and delighted by sending them email notifications and other helpful resources.

Increase your chances

can provide a completely new stream of revenue for cafes, restaurants, boutiques shops, service providers or any other business who isn't yet selling online.