Published on 12/3/20

Responding To COVID-19

As partners of the culinary world since 1922, the current situation brings us back to the essential values of the culinary industry: sharing and solidarity. In that spirit, we are adapting our activity on social networks. Please tell us about any initiatives that you’ve put in place to help you and your employees overcome this situation, and we will share them on our official accounts.


How you can take action:

Our partner, the James Beard Foundation has put together a toolkit focused on helping you advocate for yourselves and your community, for the urgent support you and your businesses need.

Activist groups:
Industry United
COVID-19 Hospitality Task Force
Hospitality Industry Alliance: COVID-19
Innovations in Hospitality: COVID-19

Nonprofit organizations and relief funds:

Other resources: 

  • Fast Company Restaurant Diaries – a compilation of commentary from chefs and opinion pieces regarding the response to COVID-19
  • OpenTable – Practical financial tips from restaurateurs during the COVID-19 crisis
  • Eater – How restaurant owners can talk to landlords about COVID-19
  • Rally for Restaurants – a grassroots initiative to help customers support restaurants amidst the COVID-19 health crisis by ordering takeout, gift cards and meal kits
  • Food and Wine – What Everyone in the restaurant industry should know about the Coronavirus stimulus package
  • US Small Business Administration: The 7(a) loan program is the SBA's primary program for providing financial assistance to small businesses. Bar and Restaurant Expo: COVID-19 Planning: 90 Ways to Survive the Next 90 Days for Bars and Restaurants
  • Eater – relief funds for restaurants, bars, and food service workers
  • Eat News – resources organized by state
  • Eater – everything restaurant and delivery workers need to know about the new paid sick leave laws
  • Eater – what some restaurants are doing to combat food waste in the wake of restaurant closures
  • James Beard Foundation – a comprehensive list of resources for restaurants and people who want to help support restaurants
  • Cherry Bombe – resources for businesses impacted by the Coronavirus
  • National Restaurant Association – information about COVID-19 safety
  • Oyster Sunday – legal and logistical information for restaurant owners
  • NYC.gov – assistance and guidance for small businesses impacted by Coronavirus
  • Food and Wine – expert advice for restaurants on how to pivot to delivery and takeout services
  • Food and Wine – What to do when you've been laid off from your service job
  • Bon Appétit – day-by-day updates and stories from restaurant workers as the situation unfolded. These are the personal stories of people who have had to deal with the realities of being out of work, such as going without paychecks, taking out loans, closing their businesses, fear of losing their homes, etc.

Canadian resources:

  • SaveHospitalityCA – a coalition of independent Canadian restaurateurs and suppliers that came together to create a unified voice asking for immediate government support for the hospitality industry.
  • Restaurants Canada – COVID-19 updates & resources for foodservice operators
  • Government of Canada – resources for Canadian businesses
  • Small Business BC – resources for small businesses affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19)
  • Montreal Resto Relief Fund by Tastet 
  • Feast On (Culinary Tourism Alliance) has created a map of its restaurants and purveyors in Ontario that are offering takeout and delivery.
  • Daily Hive is offering free social media promotion to restaurants in Vancouver that are offering takeout and delivery.
  • Daily Hive is building a list of all restaurants in Vancouver that are offering takeout and delivery.
  • Daily Hive – WeCook Meals in Quebec is offering four weeks of free meals to 300 beneficiary attendants, nurses, and doctors across the province.
  • Daily Hive – Select Canadian grocery stores to implement designated senior shopping hours
  • Share the Goods is a matching service for people to buy groceries or supplies for those who can’t do it themselves.
  • MSN – help Chinese restaurants in Vancouver
  • The Star – Servers-turned-drivers help restaurants move to delivery to survive the COVID-19 crisis
  • Vancouver Food + Beverage Community Relief Fund