Best Practices and Safety Guidelines for Restaurants and Retailers During Covid-19
Local First Arizona is in full support of all local businesses and families impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to continue to provide as many supportive resources as possible for the Arizona business community. This resourceful guide for restaurants and retailers serves as best practices for those facilitating pick-up of products during this trying time.
Above all, we thank our local restaurants and retailers for keeping the community safe by remaining closed while still looking for opportunities to feed and provide products for the community.
Best practices for all business establishments:
Encourage debit/credit card transactions rather than handling cash. If possible take the credit card info over the phone when taking the order to limit human contact.
Ask for tip authorization over the phone so there aren’t buttons pushed or pens used
Disinfect cards when given back to the customer (or wear gloves)
Disinfect iPads, POS equipment or pens after signatures are taken
Do not allow any employees who are sick to work
Wash your hands after every transaction
For pick up orders, have an employee put order directly into customers vehicle
Food Service and Restaurant Readiness:
In addition to the above practices recommended for all establishments, we have developed further specific guidelines and steps to assist restaurants and bars and all other purveyors of food:
Limit employees needed to be in the kitchen or establishment
Do not allow entry into the establishment, instead create an outside tent pick up station, offer delivery and curbside pickup
Do not handle ID’s when checking ages for alcohol purchases
Handover packaged to go food to the customer with hands on the bottom of the package so they can pick up by the handle
Keep door locked, have customers call when they arrive to pick up
COVID-19 cannot be transmitted THROUGH food but your workers can transmit or contract it through contact with guests
Supply chain management: check to be sure you have ample supplies for cleaning and sanitizing- shortages cannot happen at this time
If employees have tested positive or think that they have COVID-19: restrict them from work until cleared by a physician and advise them to see a doctor
Standard operating procedures for cleaning and sanitizing: SERVSAFE PDF
We continue to encourage all businesses to follow the standardized business guidelines for health and safety and to connect with our team at Local First Arizona for further support and assistance for your business needs.
Here are some additional resources for all businesses to benefit from:
National Restaurant Association
The National Restaurant Association has up to date and reliable resources, webinars and information on all food safety practices, and COVID-19 related education.
Local First has a daily-updated list of all local business members and their current deals, offerings, and changes to business practices all over the state. If we keep supporting our local restaurants and bars and businesses we can help keep our economy as strong as possible!
Guidelines on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has guidelines for all businesses.
ServSafe, by the National Restaurant Association, is the food safety go-to for all restaurants and foodservice businesses to find the latest information on COVID-19 related to food safety.