Managing the uncertainty during COVID-19 pandemic: Communicating disaster and food industry sustainability

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected different industries including the food industry with the fear of transmission of virus. Challenges currently facing the food industry is the food waste and stale food in restaurants, bars and hotels, and rebuilding the trust of people to visit these places given the protocols introduced by the government. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to determine how the food industry and the government should address the sustainability and financial recovery particularly the affected F&B places. The data was gathered from 500 respondents in Indonesia. The findings of the study reveal that majority no longer visits the F&B places and the fear and lack trust with the government’s restrictions was the confirmed reason. For the 38% respondents who already visited these places, they trust the establishments complying with the health and safe protocols. These findings provide insights for F&B places, food industry and the government to develop strategies that will rebuild trust and confidence with the government with proper communication and consequently boost the sustainability of food industry.