Deliveroo teams up with industry experts to accelerate restaurant sector recovery
Working in collaboration with law firm Goodwin, and F+B property consultants Shelley Sandzer, the delivery giant has produced new practical guidance to help restaurants and landlords find 'mutually agreeable solutions' to the current challenges facing the sector.
The guidelines cover the current legal position between landlords and tenants; practical considerations with rent negotiations and lease restructuring; issues facing operators with reduced turnover; and the guiding principles to negotiations, including a checklist for tenants to follow.
Patty & Bun founder Joe Grossman describes the project as a potential lifeline for operators, many of whom face huge financial challenges as a result of the Coronavirus crisis.
“We welcome this initiative by Deliveroo, Goodwin and Shelley Sandzer," he says.
"Many F&B operators are facing what seems like insurmountable challenges as they try to rebuild their businesses, so the ready availability of advice, guidance and support from a diverse range of experts is a potential key lifeline.
"All sides of the industry need to work together to recover, and this initiative will help achieve that.”
The launch of this initiative comes as Deliveroo unveils new research highlighting the impact of the pandemic on its restaurant partners.
According to the study, nearly half of small and independent restaurants say they will go out of business within one to three months if the current situation persists.
As a result, Deliveroo says it will also be calling on the Government to take urgent action to support restaurants unable to pay their rents due to the impact of Coronavirus.
There is currently a temporary ban on evictions by landlords of commercial businesses, however this moratorium is due to come to an end in June, and as such Deliveroo says it will be calling on Ministers to take further action.
"Deliveroo is passionate about supporting our restaurant partners and we are committed to supporting them through this unprecedented time," says Deliveroo founder and CEO Will Shu.
"We are pleased to work with cross-industry experts to create much-needed solutions for restaurant partners and help accelerate the recovery of the restaurant sector we all value and want to see thrive again.”
