After the initial start of the COVID-19 outbreak, schools closed and Bill Kohne—the owner and CEO of Hugo's restaurants—"knew the families [that his business] served would be struggling. As a result, the entrepreneur decided to implement a special offer that would possibly alleviate some financial stress for those with children. Thus, for the remainder of the school year, Hugo's restaurants offered a "Pay-What-You-Can" program on the kid's menu.
The program has seen a positive response by patrons. While some enter and take advantage of the offer, others pay a little extra when they can in order to "pay it forward." The initiative has really created a tightly knit community. In addition to the kid's meal program, Hugo's restaurant also released pantry boxes as a way to support their long-term vendors who were struggling to keep up with the demands of the pandemic.
PWYC Kid's Meals
Hugo's Restaurants is Alleviating Stress from Family Life Amid COVID-19
Trend Themes
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PWYC Menus — Restaurants are adopting PWYC menus, allowing customers to pay what they can for food items.
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Community Support Initiatives — Businesses are implementing community support initiatives, such as pantry boxes, to assist those in need during the pandemic.
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Socially Responsible Entrepreneurship — Entrepreneurs are more focused on being socially responsible and implementing programs to assist their communities during times of need.
Industry Implications
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Restaurant Industry — The restaurant industry can adopt PWYC menus to assist struggling families, while building stronger connections with their communities.
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Food & Beverage Distribution — Food & beverage distributors can partner with restaurants to provide support for community initiatives, such as pantry boxes for those in need.
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Entrepreneurship & Small Business — Entrepreneurs and small business owners can utilize socially responsible initiatives, such as PWYC menus, to increase community support and loyalty during difficult times.