Situation of Pastry Industry in Lockdown
#impactoflockdown
I remember I put a small comment in march on Facebook,
when the Lockdown start. Many of my friends could not understand it and were
asking me if I am fine.
Today after 50 days of Lockdown many things start
making sense, but on what cost?
There are many new things we start realizing like self-sustainability
be it humans or resources. We also realize how connected we are to other parts
of world? China have a lock down, as a result, hotels in Asia were reduced to
20 % of occupancy level.
Food & Beverage Industry – Restaurant & Pastry
shops
I am sure 80 % of our food and beverage Industry is
based on local resources in terms of labor if not Ingredients and equipment’s. With
the Lock down situation people are the first one to get effected. No more jobs,
no more salaries and then we realize that the entire flow of cash circulations
stopped.
Many of our friends are shutting down the operation completely
or will be restarting, once the situation gets better. Provided they would be
in position to do so. Off course some of them still manage to float, who adapt
themselves faster to on line order or with partners like grab food or food
panda. This situation is not going to improve and we won’t be seeing them same amount
of business again, at least for the rest of the year. The new norm of hygiene, distance
and mental state of mind will be the new norm in coming time.
Off course these guys have invested a lot of money in
these establishment, and its not possible to change their course on the name of
self-sustainability
Hotels
The biggest to get hit. Many of them already close
down to manage their operating cost or to avoid any further cost. I wonder they
would try to open again so soon. There won’t be any domestic tourism in countries
Malaysia supporting these hotels. International Travels & tourism will not
be priority for people for this year
So, accept it or not, Hotel Industry will be like this
throughout this year either close down managing their operations through a
minimum workforce
Opportunity
This is going to create a great opportunity for
businesses which have a very simple clean operations or wish to start something
like that. On line order, Delivery service, Production Kitchens or make from
home. Any way, 60 – 70 of the current generations are on mobile. During
this lockdown period almost every body was surfing something out. With the
travel going to be costing, every body expect services to be provided at their
door step as much a possible.
Chef as Career or Existing chefs
I am also sure that, there will be much better opportunity
for the skilled staff. No business will like to hire staff which is not trained
or not skilled. So, people who want to be make a career as chefs or already
working as chefs, need to ensure that they use these opportunities to get
themselves trained much better for the future. Time will not be same again. they
have to fight it out with the better trained chefs. Off course they will have
financial problems to go for training but that’s how it will be. Take it or
leave it
APCA Malaysia
As the
situation emerges, APCA Malaysia will be digitalizing all their current Pastry
& Culinary Programs and will be entering into the on line training world.
It was a long overdue Project and Lockdown give us no other choice but to
rethink this as a second window to share our knowledge and skills. Secondly,
we will be starting our Own Production under Enchante Patisserie where we will
do Production for Pastry shops, Restaurants as well as pick up orders
Every time you
have a closed door, the sunlight will find a way to penetrate
That’s what we
call opportunity
Stay safe, stay at home and practise a good personal hygiene
