CHANDIGARH: Unlock 1.0 begins but many small and mid-sized restaurants are too broke to reopen.
For representing their interests, the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) now has a Chandigarh chapter with Sunveer Sondhi as its head. In his views: “North India’s restaurants need quick help. Apart from snatching the staff’s livelihood, the Covid-19 lockdown has created survival problems for owners, too.”
The restaurant industry, with an annual turnover of Rs 4.25 lakh crore and a contribution of more than 2.1% to the gross domestic product (GDP), is a significant player in the service segment and a provider of more than 70 lakh direct jobs in the country.
Commenting on his new role as head of the NRAI’s Chandigarh chapter, Sondhi said: “The responsibility comes when the Indian restaurant industry is worst-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Restaurants, big or small, are in need of support and guidance. This is time to unite.”
Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Delhi, the NRAI represents 5 lakh restaurants across the country. Its trustee and past president, Rahul Singh, said: “Chandigarh and Punjab, important regions for the restaurant sector in these unprecedented circumstances, will benefit from the business acumen and result-oriented approach of restauranteur Sondhi. We put trust in him to solve our problems.”
Asked what he planned to do first, Sondhi said: “The first thing will be to bring as many restaurant owners of the organized sector as possible under the NRAI banner. Then we will go to the government and seek urgent relaxations. The third task will be to get industry experts to advise restaurant owners via seminars on how to pass the ongoing difficult phase of economic depression.”
Sondhi is confident that this advice will work. He said: “I propose fortnightly and monthly online seminars for the exchange of knowledge and experience.” He is founder of La Pyramid Hospitalities, franchisor of Pyramid Café Lounge Bar, Pyramid Microbrewery, The ATM Bar, Pyramid Express (Cloud kitchen), and Easy Switch frozen foods.