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Restaurant COVID adaptations expected to continue

Restaurants have been forced to adapt to try to survive during COVID and experts expect those adaptations to continue.

Neil Russell with Sysco says it’s all about restaurant foods customers can take with them.

“The sophistication in the menus and the offerings for to-go and take away and delivery will continue. A lot of restauranteurs have adjusted their menu and their product offerings to ensure that the food travels well, if you will.”

He says packaging for those take out foods has evolved and will stick around.

Hudson Riehle with the National Restaurant Association says many restaurants that have started meal subscription programs will keep those after the pandemic because of demand.

“Particularly for younger cohorts. They’re much more used to that Netflix model of a subscription plan and the ability to have different levels of plan participation.”

Reile says more than 70% of millennials are likely to take part in meal subscription programs.

Both men were part of a Center for Food Integrity program this month.