Coronavirus: Burger King, KFC and Pret start to reopen some branches for delivery only
The chains reopen a limited number of stores across the country for delivery only.
Thursday 16 April 2020 16:29, UK
Some of the UK's high street food brands are offering delivery-only services as they partially reopen some branches.
Burger King, KFC and Pret a Manger all closed their stores three weeks ago under the government's coronavirus lockdown.
But the fast food chains have reopened a limited number of stores across the country for delivery only.
Government guidelines dictate that while restaurants and bars must close, they may remain open as food delivery services.
A Burger King spokesperson said the firm has opened a select number of restaurants across England as part of what it calls a "phased reopening".
Two stores in Bristol, one in Coventry and one in Swindon will open, becoming delivery-only outlets via apps such as JustEat and Deliveroo.
The company said more stores will be operational in the coming weeks, and that it will be providing staff with personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves, and will only have a limited menu available.
It also said it will be donating 1,000 meals per week to staff working at NHS hospitals local to the reopened stores.
"We hope that reopening these restaurants for delivery services goes some way to lifting our customers' spirits in these difficult times," said Burger King's marketing director Katie Evans.
Pret chief executive Pano Christou has told his customers in a blog post that the company has so far delivered 477,000 Pret items to 40 hospitals and 138 of their charity partners.
Ten of its stores in London will reopen for takeaway and delivery, with 160 members of staff volunteering to help prepare a reduced menu.
The chain will also provide essentials for front line staff such as milk, bread, and butter.
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All 10 stores are located near hospitals - Pret has pledged a 50% discount for NHS workers for the rest of April and its charity partners will receive an additional 7,000 meals a week.
"My priority is always to protect our teams and customers as best we can, which means we have put in place a number of new social distancing measures to align with the government's guidance," Mr Christou wrote.
KFC said it has opened 11 several stores across the UK, delivering a limited menu via Deliveroo.
The 11 stores are in:
- Heaton Chapel, Manchester
- Deansgate, Manchester
- Tamworth
- New Oscott, Birmingham
- Manchester Hulme
- Portsmouth
- Aldershot
- Cardinal Park, Ipswich
- Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow
- Great Western Park, Glasgow
- Coliseum Retail Park, Enfield
The chain said staff will have the option to return to work, and only those who can travel without the use of public transport will be asked to come back.
KFC said it delivered more than 3,000 meals to NHS staff and other key workers last week, and has committed to providing 100 free meals from every open store every Tuesday to those on the front line "while the situation continues".
"There's still a need for affordable, accessible food at this time - so we want to do our part," a spokesperson said.