Chain Business adapts to impact of COVID-19

​A café chain on Hung Dao Vuong Street.

The outbreak of Covid-19, especially before the last Tet, has had a significant impact on businesses operating in the restaurants and food services, which are inherently highly competitive. Many chains have gradually adapted and been more active in the face of new changes.

Mr. Chuong Le, owner of Medium Rare system on Ha Huy Giap Street (Bien Hoa city) shared, the Covid-19 reappeared on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2021, causing the number of customers to visit the restaurant decreased but not significantly compared to the same period last year. The reason is that it has adapted to past situation, so even though its revenue decreased, all restaurants still operate normally, serving the needs of regular Tet meals. At the same time, this system is increasingly focusing on improving service quality from food processing to service, to increasingly create brand reputation amongst customers, etc.

Mr. Huynh Thanh Van, Vice Chairman of South National Startup Advisory Council, an organization of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that in fact, many brands, chain systems as well as many startup service models are heavily affected by Covid-19, including franchise chains. The epidemic continues to be complicated and unpredictable, so businesses and franchised chains must prepare and script to cope with risks, and actively innovate and restructure their business to survive and stand firm in the new situation.

Dong Nai has quite well controlled the Covid-19, so the demand for travel, food and other personal services has increased. This has helped chains of stores, services,... to be able to deploy many forms of attracting customers. In addition, according to representatives of many chains of stores and services, in the coming time, they will continue to actively adapt, formulate appropriate plans in the new situation, as well as ensure effective and proactive measures to prevent and control Covid-19.

Mr. Ha Vu Bao Giang, Director of Gt Franchise Coffee Company Limited, said that it currently has 10 Z! coffee branches and is operating quite stable. “Although there are certain influences such as limiting the number of visitors, after experiencing fluctuations, each store in the chain now has experiences of coping with and adapting to the new situation compared to the outbreak of the last year. Specifically, strengthening connection with online delivery applications, proactively applying separate business strategies depending on the characteristics and locations of each store, etc.” – said Mr. Giang.

Mr. Huynh Thanh Van further shared, Covid-19 is both a challenge and a difficulty for service chains & stores but also an opportunity for businesses to seize its opportunities and find new directions under market needs. Thereby, each business needs to change its mindset, promote product research and development, focus on service quality, create its own brand mark, etc. to survive and grow stronger. On the contrary, if they just follow the old path without business innovation, they will inevitably suffer many impacts and risks even during and after such pandemic.

Phan Anh