Scooping Safely in 2021
2020 was anything but ordinary. In early March, we started to hear about the novel coronavirus and by mid-March, COVID-19 had taken over the headlines! Despite it all, we continued to produce our premium ice cream, trying to bring joy into our customers' lives during this difficult time. This was no easy feat. We had to adapt to additional PPE, COVID screening before entering the workplace, and lockdowns.
In the face of a global pandemic, ice cream sales and consumption grew. This is likely because during provincial lockdowns, take out, delivery and curbside pickup became the norm. Ice cream parlours were an ideal destination for a family outing when everything else was locked down. Scooping looked a little different than usual summers but many parlours had record summers despite the lockdown.
Here are some tips to help you scoop safely in 2021:
Debit / Credit only - Limit the transmission by eliminating cash transactions
Scooping cups instead of cones - Reduce risk by offering takeaway cups (bonus points if they're eco-friendly)
Wipe POS after each use - Cleaning the point-of-sale terminal after each use to limit the spread
Order ahead - If you’re able to, set up a system to allow customers to order ahead, skipping the lines!
Curbside pickup - Offer curbside pickup for orders rather than coming into your parlour
No samples - Limit sample spoons to reduce touchpoints
Milkshakes - Adding milkshakes to your offerings is a great option for take out!
Delivery and take out - Explore your options for delivery and take out as more customers choose to stay home
Social distancing - Display signs supporting social distancing to remind your customers
Parlour limits - Implement parlour limits for the number of customers who can safely socially distance in your shop
Set up a regular cleaning schedule - frequently cleaning high touchpoint areas and deep cleans daily
Gloves, as usual - No change here!
That’s our list! Best of luck for Scooping Season 2021. Have fun and stay safe!
Did your parlour implement any of these measures during COVID? Do you have any we should add to this list? Let us know in the comments below!