Restaurants and eateries in Pune are rolling out offers and discounts to encourage afternoon dine-ins as footfalls dip during the intense heat conditions. Food establishments are witnessing a 20%-25% drop in business during afternoon hours, with daytime walk-ins declining due to the persisting heat. The trend has continued even on weekends, with footfall picking up only after 6 pm, according to a restaurant manager in Koregaon Park.
Customer Behavior Shifts
Residents are opting for alternative dining options. Anisha Chaudhary, a resident of Kondhwa, said, "We prefer to go for a movie and eat at a food court, rather than visiting a standalone cafe. Children are falling sick in the current summer conditions." This shift in preference has impacted standalone restaurants significantly.
Restaurant Strategies to Attract Customers
Narendra Thakur, who runs Narrative, told TOI, "We have seen a 25%-40% reduction of customers during lunch hours. We are offering increased discounts along with complimentary desserts to maintain footfall." Restaurants with outdoor seating have installed air-coolers, misting systems, and introduced a new menu of cooling drinks to help people beat the heat. Aam panna, cucumber coolers, and other lemon mocktails are in high demand.
Saili Jahagirdar, owner of Zillionth Bistro in Kothrud, noted, "Lunchtime attendance has gone down significantly. There is some office crowd that does come in, but it is a big drop overall. All of us are giving online and offline offers to encourage orders."
Rise in Home Deliveries
Several restaurant owners reported an increase in the share of deliveries as people are unwilling to step out in the heat. Restaurants are seeing a 10% hike in home deliveries, with customers ordering less spicy and cold preparations. Owners are also taking special efforts to keep food products fresh while avoiding spoilage.
Ajinkya Udane, co-chapter head of the Pune Chapter of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), explained, "In summers, the shelf life of food products reduces due to the heat. Therefore, we reduce procurement of raw vegetables and food products to avoid wastage and maintain food quality."
Customer Preferences for Delivery
Customers are choosing to order from nearby and busy outlets to ensure food quality is not compromised during transit. Manoj Singh, a resident of Baner, said, "We choose to order from restaurants close by as the food gets spoiled in the heat if it comes from far away."
Ravi Purohit, a food delivery executive, observed, "Evening orders are the same, but afternoon orders have gone up by 10%-15% on weekends."
Overall, Pune's restaurant industry is adapting to the heatwave by offering discounts, enhancing cooling measures, and focusing on delivery services to sustain business during the summer months.
