Andrew Paumier is struggling to keep his food truck profitable in the middle of a pandemic.
Normally, he and his wife would be serving their deep-fried risotto balls to a lineup of customers down a busy street corner or preparing their stock for an upcoming festival, but instead, theyB次元官网网址檙e strictly limited to take-out or delivery apps.
So far, heB次元官网网址檚 lost 90 per cent of sales compared to last year.
B次元官网网址淚n the first two days of the provincial lockdown we lost $4,000 dollars in event bookings,B次元官网网址� said Paumier, the co-owner of Indecent Risotto. B次元官网网址淚f we come out at the end of the year with 10 per cent in sales compared to last year, IB次元官网网址檇 be really happy.B次元官网网址�
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Though he longs for the days before COVID-19, he said the business is waiting for the green light from the provincial government B次元官网网址� and in the meantime, heB次元官网网址檚 helping lead a forum about it.
The BC Restaurant and Foods Association will be hosting Indecent Risotto and nearly 25 Greater Victoria food businesses in a Zoom meeting to discuss their ideas on how to re-open safely when time allows.
B次元官网网址淭he big piece is customer confidence,B次元官网网址� Paumier said. B次元官网网址淚t will be our biggest stumbling block if we donB次元官网网址檛 get it right and show the public that our operations will be safe going forward.B次元官网网址�
ALSO READ: No samples, live music or craft vendors allowed at upcoming West Shore farmersB次元官网网址� markets
When the coupleB次元官网网址檚 food truck was hit by the COVID-19 regulations in March, Paumier and his wife immediately stopped their daily operations and self-isolated for two weeks to ensure they didnB次元官网网址檛 catch the virus.
Recently, Paumier sent a letter on behalf of Indecent Risotto to most CRD municipalities, asking to lighten their bylaws in order to allow their food truck to operate in public areas, specifically ones with high visibility areas B次元官网网址渟uch as the Juan de Fuca Rec Centre parking lot.B次元官网网址�
Even though the whole success of food trucks rely on the abundance of crowds, proper social distancing measures can be taken, said Paumier.
The forum, which took place on Monday, will give the chance for smaller businesses to voice their concerns, which can significantly differ from large restaurant corporations, Paumier noted. Most small businesses run on a small profit margin, sometimes between three to five per cent. When they donB次元官网网址檛 have enough of a buffer, small mom-nB次元官网网址�-pop shops begin falling through the cracks.
As far as it goes for the food truck, Paumier said heB次元官网网址檚 glad he wonB次元官网网址檛 have to deal with fixed overhead during the pandemic B次元官网网址� but that canB次元官网网址檛 be said for most brick and mortar shops.
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