Article by Andrew Geoffrey Beres
We supply, advise, and ultimately take care of our customers so they’re better equipped to provide for their guests. Their guests take care of them in turn, and then restaurants take care of us with their business, their ideas, and their enthusiasm. The circuit is complete, fueled by hospitality.
Over the past months, we’ve seen uppercase-h Hospitality, the industry, nearly dormant. It’s particularly reassuring, then, that the lowercase-h, visceral variety has been stronger than ever. Relationships, empathy, and passion for the industry have driven members of all facets to do their part to help sustain each other. Restaurant workers have banded together to amplify their voices, owners and operators have established relief funds for their employees even as they vie for relief themselves, and suppliers and distributors have donated product and funds within and beyond the industry.
This social contract of mutual protection is nothing new but, as we work to rebuild and reopen the industry, we’re seeing it transform. A striking marker of this has been the adoption of face coverings for daily wear when in public. While they may offer the wearer peace of mind, they most benefit other people. It’s a simple way we can take care of each other, our employees, and our customers.
Our procurement team has culled through myriad versions of masks to find what’s best for our diverse customer base. While we also source and sell plenty of disposable masks, we’ve lately been seeing tremendous demand for reusable options. It makes sense. Reusable masks are a more sustainable choice that can also be customized in many ways – perfect for restaurants.
Whether a basic, black mask or something more tailored, reusable options offer a unique chance to brand and protect at once. That can mean anything from a subtle logo to a custom fabric choice, to simply choosing ear loops vs neck straps. As usual, utility comes first – especially so in this situation – but this is still an opportunity to continue curating, designing, and telling the story of an operation.
We use the same criteria for ourselves when visiting restaurants, whether for business or for pleasure. Restaurants have offered us restoration and revival for centuries; it’s incumbent on us to extend that hospitality back and protect our community, together.
For more information on personal protective equipment, please reach out at PPE@singerequipment.com.
LMT Provisions is a portfolio of foodservice supplies and partnerships curated for the hospitality industry. As part of The Singer Equipment Family of Companies, LMT Provisions was built from meticulous collaboration with a world-renowned suite of culinary ambassadors and has become the industry’s number one source of inspiration for chefs and restaurateurs nationwide.
