Eat local, support local

There is no doubt that Covid-19 has turned our world upside down and had a devastating effect on many businesses.  None more so than New Zealand’s hospitality sector which has been devastated by the lockdown. 

Now more than ever our cafes and restaurants need the support of their local community and if you can, there is no better time for the farming community to support their local eatery serving beef or lamb.

For most of us, the Covid-19 Pandemic was a swift move from everyday life into full lockdown over a very short space of time.  For hospitality though, they had already noticed a significant slow-down, as restrictions on visitors into New Zealand started to bite earlier in the year, before closing completely under Alert Level 4.  Most restaurants and cafes are small to medium-sized businesses which cannot survive for very long with zero income.

Moving to Alert Level 3 seemed a moment of triumph to see chefs around the country back in their kitchens and getting creative with their takeaway menus and thanks to New Zealand’s beef and sheep farmers, the continued supply meant chefs were able to once again champion the beef and lamb dishes they are renowned for, albeit packaged in a slightly different way.

However, the picture is far from rosy with The Restaurant Association reporting continued losses from 89% of their members despite trading again under Alert Level 3.  Even with Alert Level 2 on the horizon, consumer confidence is still expected to be low and spending patterns are unknown leaving the future of hospitality in New Zealand looking very uncertain.

We know our farmers grow the best beef and lamb in the world and equally we have a wealth of talented chefs who love to tell the paddock to plate story by showcasing it on their menus.  If we can weather the Covid-19 storm together as one big community, then we can certainly dream of gathering together again for celebrations at our favourite restaurants in the future.

You can find a list of restaurants serving beef and lamb here.