Coronavirus update 5/18/20
Massachusetts Restaurant industry disappointed with re-open process
Following today's reopen press conference, we released the following media statement:
"Obviously, every restaurateur is disappointed with the lack of a defined re-opening date in today’s announcement. Massachusetts restaurants need their suppliers to have time to restock perishable inventory before it can be delivered to them, they need to notify employees about returning to work and conduct other due diligence to ensure restaurants can open effectively.
As always, restaurants remain uniquely qualified to safely serve customers because as an industry this is what they must do every day. Food and beverage establishments are the leader in safe sanitation practices, as they already operate in conjunction with FDA, state and local officials on a daily basis to ensure and comply with mandated high standards. We look forward to a timely completion of this process and welcoming our guests back, so that our industry can get back to doing what we do best."
More clarity is a must:
- Restaurant operators need clarity from the government. Both in what will be required and when they can start preparing to re-open operations.
- Clear metrics need to be defined that outline how the Commonwealth will move between the identified phases.
- And more clarity is needed regarding open ended questions that included how events are defined?, what is considered a bar? and will there be additional restrictions that have not already been mentioned in Phase 2 and Phase 3?
Although we are frustrated with today's announcement, we must continue to stay the course to get our industry up and running and get the answers to these outstanding questions.
ABCC issues extended advisory regarding the 60-day credit rule.
The Commission has approved an additional 74 days credit extension, for a total of 134 days. This advisory goes back to any invoices issued after January 18.
Click to
here
to see advisory.
Washington DC
Restaurant leaders meet with President Trump
National Restaurant Association Interim President & CEO Marvin Irby and Association Board Chair Melvin Rodrigue were among the restaurant leaders who met with President Trump today to discuss how the industry has been impacted by job losses and closures related to COVID-19, and to hear from President Trump about his plans for industry recovery in the days ahead.
Other attendees at the meeting included Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin; National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow; Jose Cil, CEO of Restaurant Brands International; Niren Chaudhary, CEO of Panera Bread; Will Guidara, Make It Nice Hospitality; Sean Feeney, Grovehouse Hospitality; James Bodenstedt, MUY! Companies; Tilman Fertitta, Landry’s; Tim Love, Texas-based chef, operator and TV personality; and, Thomas Keller of Thomas Keller Restaurant Group.
