FoodService startups: initiatives taken during the Coronavirus outbreak

Following the latest outbreaks of the Coronavirus in France and calls for national solidarity, several FoodService players are helping restaurants by offering new content, or even by offering their services free of charge. Working hand in hand to face this situation and limit the damage as much as possible, then anticipating the recovery, that's the challenge facing these 8 startups!

1) Phenix: the solution to combat food waste

What?

Every day, shops in your neighborhood (supermarkets, restaurants, bakeries...) get rid of their products, because they haven't sold them during the day. To prevent this waste, the Phenix app lets you save them at a low price, by choosing from the themed baskets of each shopkeeper.

What initiative?

As a gesture of solidarity, Phenix temporarily lifts its commission, enabling retailers to recover the full sale price of their unsold products. Since March 16, 2020, retailers can recover an additional 20% (incl. VAT) on the sale of each anti-gaspi basket.

2) TastyCloud: the start-up that digitalizes your restaurant

What?

TastyCloud offers turnkey tablet menus. Support for restaurateurs in setting up their digital menus includes photo shoots of the menu, translations into the languages of their choice, supply of equipment, and training to help customers get to grips with the system. Their menus generate customer engagement. Working with TastyCloud, for example, ensures an increase of between 2 and 6 euros in the average bill.

The start-up is making its takeaway sales tool available free of charge throughout the confinement period. Presenting your menu online, accompanied by visuals, enables your customers to order and pay directly online. To activate Click and Collect's 100% free offer (no cost or commitment), please contact TastyCloud on 01 88 32 06 70.

3) Zelty: the payment solution for your restaurants

What?

The Zelty cash register solution lets your customers order online or by phone. With this tool, restaurateurs can process orders directly in the Zelty iPad from delivery platforms (Ubereats, Glovo, Just Eat, Deliveroo), track them and then transmit them to the kitchen.

What initiative?

Zelty offers restaurants with daily sales of less than €700 (excl. VAT) the possibility of setting up an online order-taking, delivery and takeaway service during the period of confinement. Zelty offers a 50% discount on subscriptions for establishments exceeding €700. To take advantage of this offer, contact Zelty online or on +33 (0)9 72 53 55 72.

4) Zenchef: reservation software

What?

Zenchef helps independent restaurateurs save time and customers with its commission-free direct booking solution, communication tools and anti-no-show platform that optimizes table rotation.

What initiative?

In addition to organizing a free click and collect system on their customers' sites, Zenchef is setting up a voucher system to be paid now.You can contact Zenchef here for more information.

5) Extracadabra: the recruiting matchmaking app

What?

To make up for staff shortages and high turnover in the catering industry, ExtracadabraExtracadabra offers digital solutions that put qualified profiles in touch with establishments (restaurants, bars, hotels) looking for staff.

What initiative?

Since March 26, Extracadabra has been offering its services free of charge. If you need staff for your delivery activities, online orders or to prepare for the takeover, you can make your requests and choose your profiles and recruitments free of charge! For companies who have subscribed to the CDI Unlimited package, Extracadbra is suspending direct debits from March 26 until further notice. Please do not hesitate to send them an email if you have any further questions.

6) Les Entreprêteurs: the crowdfunding investment and tax exemption platform

What?

Les Entreprêteurs is a platform specialized in participative financing. The tool brings together private individuals wishing to lend their money with VSEs/SMEs in need of financing needs. The total amount collected from lenders will enable the borrowing company to obtain financing ranging from €20,000 to over €1 million.

What initiative?

Entrepreteurs defer and reschedule customer payments. The start-up has also set up a privatized financing tool, enabling franchisees who can afford it (but also the network head) to help those who are short of cash (particularly while waiting for government grants). For further information, please contact them by e-mail.

7) Tiller x Wizaplace: the free destocking platform

What?

Tillera digital ecosystem that provides over 9,000 local restaurant-entrepreneurs and retailers with tools ranging from cash registers to payment and data analysis.Wizaplacean all-in-one SaaS solution, lets you create a product or service marketplace tailored to your market.

What initiative?

In response to the scale of the situation, the two startups are providing restaurateurs with "Tiller Destocka platform from which they can dispose of their stock (raw materials and finished products) by selling it to private individuals or donating it to associations, in order to limit food waste and lost sales.

8) Malou: the first digital marketing startup dedicated to the restaurant industry

What?

Malou helps restaurateurs attract new customers online and build loyalty with a range of effective digital tools: multi-channel SEO, optimized websites, press relations and influencers.

What initiative?

In these unprecedented and difficult times, we're sharing free advice three times a week in video format. We'll help you to communicate better during the breaks, improve your local SEO, manage your social media, respond to your customer reviews and prepare for the recovery.

In a nutshell,

Whatever type of restaurant you manage, whether it's open or closed, we'll keep you informed as the situation develops. In the meantime, you can follow our Facebook, Twitter or Linkedin pages for information that might help you at the moment. If you have any questions, you can ask us in comments on this blog, by e-mail or by phone on our direct line 01 70 62 93 83. Solidarity helps us to emerge stronger from these crises, so please don't hesitate to contact us.