The food and beverage (F&B) sector in Qatar is expected to get a further boost as takeaway services at restaurants and cafes, except those operating in malls, have resumed, it is learnt.

“Apart from an increasing number of online orders for home delivery, we also hope to attract more customers in the coming days with this latest directive from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI),” a representative of a leading fast-food chain in the country told Gulf Times.

Citing the popularity of over-the-counter and drive-thru facilities among many customers, the representative said precautionary measures against Covid-19 are always in place in all their stores.

A MoCI decision issued on April 21 had barred customers from collecting takeaway orders from the premises of food outlets. Restaurants and cafes were allowed to provide home delivery services only.

Under the decision, owners of restaurants and cafes (coffee shops) had to comply with the following procedures: barring customers from collecting orders, keeping the doors of restaurants and cafes (coffee shops) closed and refraining from hosting customers both inside and outside the outlet.

The decision came within the framework of the preventive measures taken by Qatar to contain the spread of Covid-19 and preserve the health and safety of citizens and residents.

On May 12, the ministry issued Circular No 22 of 2020 on “easing restrictions on the activities of restaurants and cafés (coffee shops). By this, restaurants and cafes, except those in malls, were allowed to resume providing takeaway services to customers, besides continuing to offer home delivery services.

It is learnt that many fast-food chains and other eateries in Qatar have imposed strict food safety measures for takeaways and home deliveries such as regular hand washing (for staff and delivery boys), mandatory wearing of face masks, proper sealing of takeaway bags, and sanitising of food containers, among others.

On coping with the challenges posed by the pandemic, the representative of the above-mentioned fast-food chain said their various promotions and special offers have helped the business stay afloat.

He added that having an online presence, backed by excellent customer service, plays a key role in making a business sustainable in the face of a crisis like Covid-19.

A similar statement was echoed by a chief barista at a popular cafe operating in Al Rayyan, saying they recorded a surge in demand for various types of beverages, as well as cakes and pastries, after the MoCI issued the circular earlier this week.

“The response has been extremely positive; many customers contacted us immediately to place orders and we hope this trend will continue,” he said.

About retaining - and growing - the customer base in these trying times, he underlined the importance of offering high-quality products that suit market preferences.

He said the company continued receiving many orders for deliveries via phone calls, WhatsApp and other social media channels during the ban on takeaway services.

“We managed to stay connected with our customers not only because we have good photos and captions on Instagram but also because everyone knows the value of what they pay for,” he stressed.

He expressed confidence that the company and other similar outlets will substantially benefit from the easing of restrictions on takeaway and over-the-counter services.

About the continuous efforts of the Qatar government to combat Covid-19, he said Wednesday's Cabinet decision to make the wearing of face masks in public compulsory (except when driving alone in a vehicle) from May 17 is laudable.

As an additional protection for both staff and customers, he said besides face masks, they are also mulling to wear face shields or goggles while on duty.