50 Great Ideas 2020

Brands in the background

Aug. 11, 2020

Chains such as Dunkin’ and Taco Bell created Zoom-friendly backgrounds to remind consumers of their brands, even when dining rooms are closed.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Chicago fine-dining sister concepts Sepia and Proxi “rescheduled” their Mother’s Day promotions for August, when they will be giving complimentary glasses of rose to moms celebrating the holiday with their families after social-distancing restrictions have eased.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Chains swap meals

Aug. 11, 2020

A number of restaurant chains have tried to help their employees through a bleak time by providing free meals as a perk.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Singing food deliveries

Aug. 11, 2020

Before the pandemic closed its dining room, RTE 47 in Yorkville, Ill., often hired musicians to perform there.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Cooking for supermarkets

Aug. 11, 2020

Brennan’s in Houston employed its chefs to prepare its signature dishes for H-E-B markets, giving the restaurant a new revenue stream and keeping staff working.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Chicken for cheap

Aug. 11, 2020

Wichita, Kan., chain Chick N Max was selling boxed meals at a deep discount to help people impacted by the pandemic.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Barbecue vending machine

Aug. 11, 2020

Jones Bar-B-Q in Kansas City, Kan., installed a refrigerated vending machine for contactless purchases of burnt ends, chicken wings, rib tips and more.

50 Great Ideas 2020

PPP for self-delivery

Aug. 11, 2020

Emerging chains Bellagreen and Original ChopShop used their federal Paycheck Protection Program loans to launch self-delivery programs, keeping workers employed and avoiding steep third-party delivery fees.

50 Great Ideas 2020

Elderly relief plan

Aug. 11, 2020

The state of California introduced what it called a first-of-its-kind initiative connecting restaurants with elderly people in need of meals.

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50 Great Ideas 2020