The Horeca sector, in this second phase of the pandemic, is under pressure from new restrictions on the consumption of food and drinks in public. Between limitations and closures, security measures and undeniable changes in consumer habits, let's now take a look at some tips for dealing with the crisis in a strategic and effective way. Impacts of COVID-19 on the food and beverage sector Coming to the end of this abnormal year, we can say that 2020 will certainly not be remembered by companies in the Food & Beverage sector. The Horeca sector is undoubtedly one of the main victims of this unprecedented crisis. This stems from the first wave of the pandemic, which resulted in total closures imposed last spring. Then there was the adoption of all the hygiene precautions in order to adapt both to the new safety rules in the reopening phase, as well as to this most recent phase of infections.
The pandemic is bringing one of the most important sectors to its knees, important not only for the Italian economy but also for the labor market. Over 300,000 businesses and nearly 1.5 million workerswere forced to close their premises and cope using new strategies that were, in some cases, already in place but not really tested. The impacts of the pandemic are not limited to the economic sphere. They also significantly affect society: consumer habits are changing and this will most likely become part of the new normal. In concrete terms, we are witnessing Image Masking Service two trends: digitizing the food, beverage and dining shopping experience with unprecedented growth in demand for take-out and online shopping services . According to Google Trends, the search term "takeout" saw a 285% increase in early March. Additionally, website visits and food delivery apps grew by 39% in Italy.
A survey by AlixPartners showed that 34% of Italian consumers ordered their groceries online, either more often or for the first time, and 19% used the in-store pick-up service. 43% of Italians now buy food and drink online. the rediscovery of traditional family cooking , linked on the one hand to a desire to save money and on the other hand to more time spent at home. According to research conducted by AMC Global during the first months of the pandemic, 89% of consumers believe that cooking costs less while 40% intend to reduce their budget and save on food consumption. Overall, 43% of Italians are cooking at home more often now than before the lockdown. We have tried to share a series of good practices for the Horeca sector to respond to the crisis . The most effective campaigns of the first lockdown inspired us. Here are our 6 tips to readjust your digital strategy. 1. Invest in home experiences Optimize and promote takeaway services Whether you're a restaurant,