India’s largest restaurants have started a first-of-its-kind combined loyalty programme, bringing rivals together to offer advance discount coupons to customers in a bid to revive business stalled by the nationwide lockdown. Under the banner Rise4Restaurants, consumers can buy vouchers from any member of the National Restaurant Association of India and redeem them for a 25% discount on bills once restaurants open.
“The industry is facing unforeseen times and there’s a long fight for survival. This is designed to help secure the sector’s future and contributions will help in paying wages and salaries of employees,” an NRAI spokesperson said. The move is also aimed at bringing in consumers who may be wary of dining out after the lockdown is relaxed.
“This exercise is the first of its kind created by the industry, keeping in mind the current plight of members and their employees. Unlike any other platform offering gift vouchers, it recognises concerns that customers may have regarding the future recovery of restaurants,” said Gauri Devidayal, an NRAI managing committee member.
With half a million members, the industry group faces large-scale shutdowns of restaurants and lack of revenue amid the ongoing lockdown, which started on March 25. Since then, restaurants are operating only on delivery models, which have been limited, with consumers preferring to order in mainly groceries. Many of the country’s largest restaurant chains have deferred paying 20% to 40% of salaries to senior employees for April, even as uncertainty prevails over when the lockdown will end.