Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Restaurant industry's response to Covid-19

Mircheva, Nikoleta LU ; Plompen, Barbara and Wynants, Milan (2020) In LBMG Strategic Brand Management - Masters Paper Series BUSN21 20202
Department of Business Administration
Abstract
Purpose – The key objective of this research is to discuss different restaurant strategies that emerged in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and Sweden in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and relate the respective restaurant activities to brand trust and reputation. Therefore, the restaurant industry is analyzed with respect to the pandemic and findings are put into context by explaining the countries’ severity of lockdown. The current research contributes to literature on the restaurant industry during the Covid-19 pandemic and encompasses important theoretical and practical implications for restaurant strategies regarding customer trust and relationship.

Methodology – Literature review on restaurant industry during Covid-19 in connection... (More)
Purpose – The key objective of this research is to discuss different restaurant strategies that emerged in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and Sweden in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and relate the respective restaurant activities to brand trust and reputation. Therefore, the restaurant industry is analyzed with respect to the pandemic and findings are put into context by explaining the countries’ severity of lockdown. The current research contributes to literature on the restaurant industry during the Covid-19 pandemic and encompasses important theoretical and practical implications for restaurant strategies regarding customer trust and relationship.

Methodology – Literature review on restaurant industry during Covid-19 in connection with brand trust and reputation followed by case studies of four restaurants in different countries to draw conclusions about undertaken strategies in reaction to the pandemic.

Findings – The analysed Covid-19 restaurant strategies distinguish themselves in level of change and communication. Findings are depicted in a 2 by 2 model. Existing brand trust, reputation and strong customer relationship prove to be of high value regarding the restaurants’ organizational performance while facing the challenges of the Covid-19 health crisis.

Research limitations/implication – Lack of literature, longitudinal studies and empirical data due to the recency of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to a small sample size the findings are not statistically significant. Future research on restaurant strategies during and after the health crisis focusing on brand perception have high potential to create valuable theoretical and managerial implications.

Practical implications – Fostering brand trust and brand preference in the customer’s mind is crucial in order to face unprecedented challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originality/value – The current paper is the first research that focuses on comparing restaurant strategies in four different European countries that emerged from the specific country’s severity of lockdown and provides important general and contextual managerial recommendations. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Mircheva, Nikoleta LU ; Plompen, Barbara and Wynants, Milan
supervisor
organization
course
BUSN21 20202
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Strategic Brand Management, Restaurant Industry, Brand Trust, Brand Reputation, Customer Relationship, CSR, Covid-19 Pandemic, International Dimensions
publication/series
LBMG Strategic Brand Management - Masters Paper Series
language
English
id
9031899
date added to LUP
2020-11-13 11:32:13
date last changed
2020-11-13 11:32:13
@misc{9031899,
  abstract     = {{Purpose – The key objective of this research is to discuss different restaurant strategies that emerged in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark and Sweden in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and relate the respective restaurant activities to brand trust and reputation. Therefore, the restaurant industry is analyzed with respect to the pandemic and findings are put into context by explaining the countries’ severity of lockdown. The current research contributes to literature on the restaurant industry during the Covid-19 pandemic and encompasses important theoretical and practical implications for restaurant strategies regarding customer trust and relationship.

Methodology – Literature review on restaurant industry during Covid-19 in connection with brand trust and reputation followed by case studies of four restaurants in different countries to draw conclusions about undertaken strategies in reaction to the pandemic.

Findings – The analysed Covid-19 restaurant strategies distinguish themselves in level of change and communication. Findings are depicted in a 2 by 2 model. Existing brand trust, reputation and strong customer relationship prove to be of high value regarding the restaurants’ organizational performance while facing the challenges of the Covid-19 health crisis.

Research limitations/implication – Lack of literature, longitudinal studies and empirical data due to the recency of the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to a small sample size the findings are not statistically significant. Future research on restaurant strategies during and after the health crisis focusing on brand perception have high potential to create valuable theoretical and managerial implications.

Practical implications – Fostering brand trust and brand preference in the customer’s mind is crucial in order to face unprecedented challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic.

Originality/value – The current paper is the first research that focuses on comparing restaurant strategies in four different European countries that emerged from the specific country’s severity of lockdown and provides important general and contextual managerial recommendations.}},
  author       = {{Mircheva, Nikoleta and Plompen, Barbara and Wynants, Milan}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{LBMG Strategic Brand Management - Masters Paper Series}},
  title        = {{Restaurant industry's response to Covid-19}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}