Market Update
HOW THE
DRINKS
ON-TRADE IS
ADAPTING
DURING THE
CORONAVIRUS
CRISIS
By Millie Milliken
F
rom delivery
services and
gift vouchers to
drive-throughs
and online
masterclasses, the drinks
trade is quickly adapting to
keep business going through
the coronavirus outbreak
What does the hospitality
industry do when it’s faced
with adversity? Adapt, create
and – where possible – carry
on. The last 48 hours have
seen bars, restaurants and
pubs hit hard by the mass
self-isolation of customers in
a bid to contain coronavirus,
as well as other services
operating in the trade (such
as education bodies and
suppliers).
And while many company
owners may be closing their
doors, they are instead
opening their services to the
public via home deliveries,
gift vouchers, and more, in
Drink Asia
14
an effort to safeguard their
businesses and continue to
serve their customers.
Out of house
Delivery services have proved
to be the most popular among
operators. Signature Brew
co-founder Sam McGregor
announced yesterday that
they would be selling Pub
in Box kits for customers to
recreate the pub experience
at home – complete with beer
glasses, beer mats, a vinyl
March-April 2020
record, a pub quiz, a playlist,
and pub snacks.
Meanwhile, Passione Vino
(which supplies many of
London’s top restaurants
with wine) has today
launched a ‘wine on wheels’
service, delivering its bottles
to people’s homes via Vespa;
while Lady of the Grapes in
Covent Garden has launched
a new online shop to deliver
wine, cheese and charcuterie
within half a mile of the bar.