Buffet restaurant rejuvenated in two months … The shadow of the crown continues

Entry 2020.10.13 13:00

To facilitate the first step of social distancing … The buffet restaurant resumes one after another
Two months of trade suspension, delivery, HMR and other incentives … Reproliferation concerns remain

At 7pm on the 12th, when the ‘social distancing’ to respond to the coronavirus infection (Corona 19) was mitigated in one step, a ‘VIPS’ store in Mapo-gu, Seoul came to life after a while. While ‘seat spacing’ was implemented, available tables were filled with no empty seats.

Most of the customers used the salad bar. At each table and throughout the store, notices are provided stating that wearing a plastic mask and gloves is essential when using the salad bar and hand sanitizers. At the store entrance, an electronic access list had to be filled out using a QR code or a handy visit list, and all store employees, from the hallway to the kitchen, were greeted with masks.

Park Mo (38), who visited the store with two children that day, said: “The food was clean and the children’s playroom was well equipped, so I used it often before the coronavirus outbreak.” I gathered the children, “he said.

Buffet restaurants like VIPS have reopened for two months since they closed on August 19. This is because, at that time, the second phase of distancing was implemented, which made it impossible to operate a buffet restaurant designated as a ‘high-risk facility’. The industry is welcoming the resumption of business. However, as Corona 19 is not over yet, he expresses anxiety that the distancing stage could rise at any moment.

BIPS, operated by CJ Foodville, resumed operations at 28 of the metropolitan area’s 41 stores as of the 12th. A CJ Foodville official said: “On the news that the distancing phase is waning, we quickly prepared to resume business over the weekend and we open the store again starting today. ” “VIPS employees who had converted to other brand name stores or other local stores were also deployed again. He said.

‘Seasonal Table’, a Korean buffet restaurant, also resumed operations in 5 of the 9 stores on the same day. However, the four stores, including COEX Mall, Seoul Station, Yongsan I-Park Mall and Suwon Lotte Mall, decided to maintain a trial operation that applied the ‘one-person group’ concept introduced last month instead of a menu. buffet at the moment. Additionally, CJ Foodville plans to strengthen its quarantine prevention guidelines, such as the distance between seats, the use of sanitary masks and gloves for employees and customers, and hand sanitizers compared to two months ago.

E-Land also resumed sales of more than 150 stores across the country, including 40 ‘Ashley’ stores and 20 ‘Nature Byeolgok’ stores in the metropolitan area, as well as pizzerias and buffet brands across the country. An E-Land Eats official said: “We plan to operate thoroughly in the fields of hygiene and safety, such as preventing entire stores, frequently disinfecting customer movements, supplying personal items and disposable gloves for that customers can enjoy meals without worry. “

Starting on the 15th, Shinsegae Food plans to reopen two ‘Olban’ stores and three ‘Bono Bono’ stores. An official from Shinsegae Food said: “We are in the process of relocating the store for cleaning, sanitation and security, maintaining the store, ordering food materials and reorganizing the staff who have been transferred to other stores.” “We will ensure that customers can visit the store with confidence through careful preparation.”

The hotel industry is also preparing for the reopening of the buffet restaurant business. The Westin Chosun Hotel Seoul, operated by Shinsegae Chosun Hotel, resumed the operation of the buffet restaurant’Aria from the 12th. From the 14th, Shilla Hotel and Lotte Hotel will normalize the business of ‘The Park View’ and ‘La Seine’ , every buffet restaurant in downtown Seoul. On the same day, Hanwha Hotels & Resorts will reopen the buffet ‘Pabellón’ in building 63.

Previously, the business was hit hard by the buffet restaurant’s long period of commercial suspension. In the past two months, when the buffet restaurant was closed, E-Land Eats completely closed its doors at 12 Ashley stores and 5 Natural Byeolgok stores. CJ Foodville has also closed the VIPS Bulgwang Station and the Dongdaemun Seasonal Food Branch since last month.

The industry began to prepare incentives, such as the introduction of ‘table service (a method of bringing food to the seat when ordering food from an employee)’, launching a menu for one person or packaging and delivery products. Each company plans to continue to maintain and expand its line of products and services even after business resumes.

CJ Foodville’s VIPS recently introduced a ‘meat parlor’ offering steak, pasta and pizza as a course menu at Munjeong and Pangyo stores, and the delivery-only ‘Yam Delivery’ brand service area was established in two areas. existing Seoul and Gyeonggi. It has been expanded to 11 regions. In addition, the Seasonal Table presented a ‘one-man banquet’, consisting of a typical buffet-style menu.

E-Land Eats expanded the menu for ‘Ashley Chef Box’, a practical home-cooked meal (HMR), and introduced ‘Ashley Home Dining’, a delivery service. Olbano from Shinsegae Food has launched its own HMR products and new products online.

The industry, which has resumed operations, welcomes the move, but still cannot stop the tensions. A buffet restaurant official said: “Even on the first day that social distancing measures were mitigated to stage 1, the number of new confirmed corona19 cases reached 100 people.” As long as it’s specified, you can’t completely get rid of your anxiety. ”

On the 12th there were 97 confirmed cases of Corona 19. The official said: “The companies are doing everything possible to prevent the quarantine,” he said. “As continuing to restrict the buffet restaurant business can be reverse discrimination, I hope the government will clearly present the criteria for designating ‘high-risk facilities.’

Some predict that the recovery of the industry will not be easy. Another foodservice industry official said: “There are restrictions on the operation of the store, such as the distance between seats,” and the psychological anxiety of consumers about Corona 19 still persists, so it seems difficult for a restaurant style buffet make as much profit as it used to be. “Said.