Ravi Chandran, CEO – The Coffee Club believes that the country’s brunch scene will take time to adapt to ‘new normal’ in the UAE. Chandran revealed he kept four branches of his business (The Coffee Club) open throughout the lockdown, two in Dubai and two in Abu Dhabi, which were available for delivery orders only.
“It’s all about the fear factor from the customers and consumers. If I’m going to go out and eat or if I’m going to be served cooked whatever it is, am I going to get the virus, because the virus can come back again? Until a vaccine is found, there is going to be a fear factor. How hygienic is this place? Are they following all the guidelines? Even the delivery stuff, we don’t know who is delivering and if this person is free of coronavirus.” – Ravi Chandran, CEO – The Coffee Club
He added that the ‘new normal’, once Covid-19 is consigned to the history books, may have a huge impact on the country’s famous Friday brunch scene, in particular.
“For sure. For the brunches, there is a particular community that goes to brunch. It is going to take a while. But that’s buffet. You can go and cough in front of a buffet and you never know,” he said. “But people are so attached to buffet and Friday brunch here, it’ll take a while to come back.”
“What happens after three months is the question mark. Three months is not enough because your business is not going to pick up for the next six to 12 months. My rent is 18 percent of my sales and if I don’t make those sales now, how am I going to pay that, we need to negotiate with landlords to get an extended holiday or some rent relief or let’s work on turnover rent. There’s going to be conflicts.” – Chandran concluded.
