As we all know, COVID19 has had a drastic impact on the world’s economy. Small food businesses, in the hospitality sector in particular, have been affected more heavily than the others. Although many owners have experienced both financial and mental health problems, they have also started thinking “outside the box”, and tapping into their resilience and resourcefulness in order to survive. 

Can we therefore talk about an otherwise disastrous pandemic in terms of positive outcomes? 

How did people engage creatively with the restrictions to navigate this difficult period?

 

Many articles highlight the solidarity that was born between venues helping each other, such as bars partnering with food trucks in order to be able to serve drinks, following the restriction placed on pubs on selling alcohol only if accompanied by food (source). Farmers who used to supply restaurants, came together to create personalised “food boxes” filled with local products and delivered straight to households. Even big supermarkets decided to support small producers by making more space for local products on their shelves (source). When things got even more serious and many businesses had to shut down, alternative ways of selling food emerged, such as home-baking cakes and home-cooking meals or online sale platforms and wholesales to work off surplus ingredients (source 1, source 2).

 

Restaurants also experienced big changes in how they operated, having to reduce personal interaction between staff and customers in favour of takeaway deliveries and QR codes. However, they also initiated positive changes by creatively experimenting with their menus and offering original experiences, such as “heat-and-eat” dishes, meal and cocktail kits, “coronavirus specials” (a restaurant, for instance, started offering toilet paper together with takeaway meals!) and customised cooking classes (source 1, source 2). 

 

As I embark on this exciting project, I am curious to find out how Hillingdon food businesses have reacted to the pandemic. Although COVID19 has been a difficult moment for many vendors, I hope that this neighbourhood has also been able to come up with creative strategies and ways of helping each other. 

 

We would love to hear your stories on this, or simply discuss this topic further with you! Get in touch by emailing us at hillingdonfoodstories@gmail.com :) 

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