Business

UK diners snap up state-subsidised quinoa and steak

Published

5 years ago

August 5, 2020

LONDON (Reuters) – On a summer’s evening, the streets of central London echoed to what has become a rare sound during the coronavirus pandemic: the chatter and laughter of diners seated at terrace tables.

The launch on Monday of Britain’s state-funded, half-price Eat Out to Help Out scheme triggered a rush for some of the capital’s best-known eateries, and a broader rise in business at other restaurants.

The area around the former marketplace in Covent Garden was still largely devoid of its usual hordes of office workers, tourists and theatre-goers.

But the steep discounts whetted the appetite of the area’s remaining regulars at a nearby branch of By Chloe, a vegan restaurant chain. Its sales increased by 20% on the first day of the scheme compared with a week earlier.

Despite the signs of the initial success of the scheme, the lure of cheap lunches and dinners will not be a silver bullet for the country’s struggling hospitality industry.

Many people in Britain remain worried about the risk of infection in shared spaces, hampering efforts by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s government to get the economy going again and to get workers back in their offices.

“Coming to London feels like you’ve walked into a scene from 28 Days Later,” Stephen Entwhistle said, referring to a post-apocalyptic horror film as he waited in By Chloe for his lunch.

The 35-year-old advertising worker said the scheme gave him a chance to lend a hand to Britain’s economy.

“I will probably go out a lot more now, rather than trying to decide what to cook every day,” Entwhistle said.

Data from booking firm Opentable showed a 10% jump in the number of diners at reopened restaurants in Britain on Monday compared with the same day in 2019, the first rise since March. At the start of last week, the number of diners had been down more than 40%.

Big discount, but big problems

Finance minister Rishi Sunak announced the scheme in July as part of a latest wave of emergency measures to shore up the economy which contracted by a quarter in the March-April period.

The 500 million-pound ($650 million) scheme offers 50% off the bill for eat-in food and drink – up to 10 pounds per person and excluding alcohol – on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August.

The government hopes the unprecedented subsidy, along with cuts to value-added tax for the hospitality sector, will help to reduce job losses at restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs which employ 1.8 million people.

Kate Nicholls, chief executive of UKHospitality, an industry group, welcomed the support but said around a third of Britain’s bars and restaurants are at risk of permanent closure.

“At the moment it’s taking a little while to unwind,” she said. The government’s emergency support, which also includes a massive job retention programme and rules preventing eviction by landlords until September, was helping to slow job losses.

“But they will start to come through,” Nichols said.

She said she was pressing Sunak for more support in his autumn budget, including measures to help bring down the burden of rents and debt taken on during the crisis.

Britain’s unemployment rate has held at just below 4%, kept down in large part by the job retention scheme. But employers who benefit from it must now make steadily rising contributions to its cost and it will be closed at the end of October.

The government’s budget forecasters have predicted the unemployment rate will hit 12% at the end of this year in their central scenario.

Missing workers

Scot Turner, vice president of operations at QOOT Co., which runs the By Chloe vegan food chain, said his firm would extend the 50% discount offer through September, without the government subsidy, in the hope of catching more returning workers.

But he added it was extremely worrying that some employers had advised staff not to return to the offices until 2021.

“My fear, in central London, is whether there’s enough being done to drag people back into town,” he said.

The degree of caution that consumers feel is also a big unanswered question for the Bank of England which on Thursday will announce its latest outlook for the economy.

The uncertainties underscore the scale of the challenge ahead even for restaurants that have been swamped with booking requests such as the Hawksmoor chain of steakhouses, which is offering an extra 10 pounds off between Monday and Wednesday in August, on top of the government’s subsidy.

When it announced 5,500 seats on its website with its Eat Out to Help Out offer, they were all gone within six hours.

“So far, the re-openings have gone better than we hoped,” said Huw Gott, one of Hawksmoor’s founders, above the growing hubbub from a dining room. “But who knows what September and October will bring?”

Reporting and photo: Reuters

Business

BBM: Stronger hospitality platform via Hotelier Maldives Awards, culinary development

Published

3 weeks ago

May 13, 2025

m@ldives

Since 1990, Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) has been at the core of the Maldives’ hospitality supply chain. More than a distributor, BBM has become a trusted partner in shaping talent, raising standards, and building long-term capacity across the industry.

That commitment continues in 2025 through its title sponsorship of the Hotelier Maldives Awards, and its growing investment in culinary development and cross-industry collaboration.

Supporting the Ecosystem, Not Just the Event

BBM is the preferred partner for over 60 international brands. However, its true value lies in how it supports the people behind the brands. From chefs and service staff to back-of-house professionals, BBM works across the sector to create real impact.

This year, the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2025 expands its recognition with four new categories:

Watersports Personality of the Year
Diving Personality of the Year
Airport Representative of the Year
Resort Manager of the Year

These additions reflect a simple belief. Everyone who shapes the guest experience deserves to be seen. Not just the visible few. Everyone.

Hotel Asia and the Rise of Culinary Confidence

For more than two decades, BBM has served as the main sponsor of the Hotel Asia Exhibition and International Culinary Challenge, endorsed by the World Association of Chefs Societies (WACS).

This platform has consistently raised the bar by bringing over 25 WACS A-Grade international jurors to the Maldives each year. Through this effort, local chefs get to test their skills on a global scale.

To further encourage excellence, BBM launched the Chairman’s Trophy, awarded annually to the most promising Maldivian chef:

2023 — Chef Mohamed Adhil
2024 — Chef Ahmed Mazim

Each name marks a growing movement. Maldivian chefs no longer compete to participate. They compete to win.

Backing Global Exposure for Local Talent

BBM has directly sponsored Maldivian chefs to represent the country at global events, including:

HOFEX 2017 in Hong Kong, where Chef Ahmed Fatheen and Chef Ismail Naseer earned silver
La Sial 2018 in Abu Dhabi, where Chef Mohamed Adhil won both gold and silver
FHA 2018 in Singapore, supporting emerging talent
Asian Pastry Cup 2018, where Chef Aminath Hameed was recognized as a pioneering female chef
Chinese Cuisine World Championship 2019, where Chef Ahmed Mazim won bronze
World Chefs Congress and Expo 2022, where BBM sponsored six MNU students under its Building Young Talent initiative

Creating Spaces for Knowledge Transfer

Beyond competitions, BBM hosts world-class chefs to lead pro bono Masterclasses, including:

Chef Bruno Ménard, holder of three Michelin stars
Chef Edwin Leow, gold medalist at the IKA Culinary Olympics

These sessions are designed to be open, practical, and rooted in the everyday reality of resort kitchens.

Recognition with Purpose

BBM’s sponsorship of the Hotelier Maldives Awards 2025 is part of a larger support system. These awards are not marketing. They are memories. They capture the faces, names, and efforts of those who make the Maldives one of the most admired hospitality destinations in the world.

“When people are seen, they rise,” said Ali Afrah Hassan, Head of HR, Admin, and Corporate Affairs at BBM. “This platform is our way of saying you matter. Not just once a year, but every day you show up to serve.”

Whether through product support, recognition, training, or infrastructure, BBM is building something larger than supply chains. It is helping shape the culture of Maldivian hospitality.

Business

Dubai Chocolate Brownies in Maldives: BBM, Dreidoppel conclude pastry tour

Published

1 month ago

May 1, 2025

m@ldives

BBM’s exclusive Dreidoppel Demo Tour, led by Master Pâtissier Frankie Robin, concluded successfully on Apr 30th, after a 10-day pastry training series across 15 leading Maldivian resorts that requested the training. Two city bakeries were also trained on the 30th. The initiative brought together global expertise and a strong commitment to raising pastry standards in the local hospitality industry.

This year’s sessions focused on practical pastry solutions using Dreidoppel’s premium ingredient range to create Panettone, Dubai chocolate brownies, Mousses, Crème Brûlée, Fill & Gloss applications, and Caramel Chocolate Snacks.

A standout feature of the tour was the passion shown by young chefs across the islands.

Chef Frankie Robin remarked, “What truly impressed me was how prepared and passionate the young chefs were. Their eagerness to learn, experiment, and take their skills to world-class standards made every session an absolute joy.”

Grounded in real kitchen challenges—speed, flavour, and efficiency—Chef Frankie’s demos showcased how smart ingredient choices can drive both creativity and performance.

A.V.S. Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer at BBM, added, “At BBM, we believe in more than just supplying ingredients—we are committed to the professional growth of the industry. Collaborations like this empower culinary teams with global techniques and greater confidence.”

The tour reflects BBM’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the Maldivian foodservice industry through knowledge-sharing and access to world-class products.

Business

BBM brings Vaseline, Hellmann’s, BRU Coffee to Maldives market

Published

1 month ago

April 26, 2025

m@ldives

Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) extended their strong and decades old partnership with Unilever International, by adding to their brand portfolio – Vaseline, Hellmann’s, and BRU Coffee for the Maldivian market.

The collaboration was announced at a Business gathering held at the Manhattan Business Hotel, attended by over 300 trade partners from across Maldives.

With this partnership, BBM strengthens its retail offerings across the Maldives archipelago. Vaseline, a trusted name in skincare, and Hellmann’s, known globally for quality food products, will now be available through BBM’s distribution network.

“Vaseline is a name that generations trust for skin care. And Hellmann’s is a global icon in flavours. We’re proud to bring both to shelves across the Maldives and enrich everyday living for our customers,” said Muksith Hussain, Business Head – Retail.

In the hospitality sector, BBM introduces Bru Coffee as an addition to its HORECA (Hotel, Restaurant, Café) offerings. BRU Coffee provides a quality beverage option for hotels, resorts, and restaurants across the Maldives.

“BRU is one of the most loved coffee brands in the region. With this launch, we’re giving our hospitality partners a versatile product that delivers on both taste and reliability that can be consumed as a beverage and for the purpose of dessert preparation, something they can serve with confidence,” said Hisham Girsy, Business Head – HORECA.

The gathering served as a platform for BBM to engage with its valued trade partners and introduce these new brands to the market.

A.V.S Subrahmanyam, Chief Operating Officer at BBM, remarked: “BBM is built on relationships. This event reflects our commitment to not just introduce great products but to support, connect, and elevate our trade partners. We’re in this together, and the journey ahead is promising.”

As BBM continues to grow its portfolio and global partnerships, the focus remains clear delivering excellence, building trust, and shaping the future of trade in the Maldives.

Bestbuy Maldives (BBM) is a leading distribution company in the Maldives, connecting international brands with local businesses across retail and hospitality sectors. With a customer-focused approach and extensive distribution network, BBM continues to be a trusted partner in the Maldivian market.