Seattle caterer innovating to combat massive loss of business due to social distancing

SEATTLE - March 12, 2020 - PRLog -- Seattle sustainable caterer, On Safari Foods, is launching a new online ordering (https://www.onsafarifoods.com/online-ordering) service today. The new service, aimed at consumers who are eating at home but looking for an alternative to take out, is an attempt by the company to reduce the devasting loss of business the company has experienced as a result of the state's social distancing policy.

On Safari Foods CEO, Teresa Carew, says she returned from a business trip last Monday to a phone call from a corporate food service client. "He has been our client since 2011 and he called to cancel his foodservice indefinitely. This really set off alarm bells for us," she said. This alarm proved to be warranted because by Wednesday, every employee from every one of On Safari Foods' corporate foodservice accounts had been sent to work from home and all other catering customers had either canceled their confirmed orders or postponed through May. "We went from catering for up to 3,000 people every day to zero business within a few days," she said.

Carew knew she had to act fast to save the jobs of her workforce of 65 full-time employees and almost 70 temporary staff.  "We had a brainstorming session and came up with the idea of making a selection of our popular entrees available through online ordering. Today, we are pleased to offer our home-cooked meals using hormone-free, antibiotic-free and humanely raised protein paired with the freshest locally sourced produce."

Frozen entrees available through online ordering include butter chicken with rice, Swedish meatballs with egg noodles, South African chicken curry with rice, chicken tagine with couscous, and more. All starches are available a la carte.

Carew says the impact of a total loss of business can be devastating to small businesses.  "If you don't have savings or a line of credit when there is no business, you have to make tough choices including letting people go who are valuable to your business."

The remarkable part for Carew is the support she has received from her staff. "Many of my employees value the company so much that they are willing to make huge personal sacrifices. Many have volunteered to reduce their hours, cut their salaries or go on unemployment," she said.

Order online

https://www.onsafarifoods.com/online-ordering

Pick up

11am-2pm, Monday through Friday.

3317 3rd Ave South

Seattle, WA 98134

Delivery

Home delivery is available with a minimum order of $150.

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ABOUT ON SAFARI FOODS (https://www.onsafarifoods.com/)

On Safari Foods is a Seattle caterer specializing in sustainable wedding and event catering and corporate foodservice.