THE Batu Lancang food court operators have introduced ‘drive-thru’ service at their premises recently to help revive their businesses after seeing a drastic drop in the number of walk-in customers.
One of the stall operators, Goh Kok Joo, 39, said customers were afraid to visit the place after the food complex was shut for almost two weeks following the detection of Covid-19 cases among its traders last month.
“Our business has dropped by 80% since the reopening of the food court as people are still afraid to come here. And it is a double blow for us when the full lockdown was implemented following that.
“The idea to come up with the ‘drive-thru’ service struck me when I saw the hawkers daily sitting down for almost two hours doing nothing.
“I decided to use my existing online platform for food delivery which I had launched during the movement control order (MCO 1.0) to promote the ‘drive-thru’ initiative to the public,’’ Goh told Buletin Mutiara today.
Goh, who also helps to coordinate the ‘drive-thru’ orders for his fellow hawker friends, said the Batu Lancang food court has four pick up points, namely A, B, C and D.
“I am also helping other stall operators with the ‘drive-thru’ service as some of them are elderly and are not tech-savy to handle the online orders.
“There are 25 hawkers who have joined me for the ‘drive-thru’ service, and we have put up the signboards to notify the customers on the pick-up points.
“During times like this, it is important for us to keep finding new methods or ways to promote our business,‘’ added Goh, who is selling ‘Kuih Pau’ at the food court for the past two years.
Those who would like to opt for the ‘drive-thru’ service can contact him at 017-559 6026 or 011-6234 6218 or visit http://bit.ly/blfoodcourt
For Yeap Poh Beng, 52, the operator for No.76 coffee stall, she said her customers were happy with the ‘drive-thru’ service she was providing on her own platform as it was ‘hassle-free’.
“Customers find it to be more convenient and safer as they can minimise physical contact with people at public places.
“We will send them our menu when they contact us. Then once they get back to us with the orders, we will make the necessary arrangement for them to get their food at our pick-up point.
“I do not impose service charge for orders more than 20 pax.
“My daughter (Khor Ruh Tyng) is the one who manages the orders and she can be contacted at 016-411 4770 or 012-428 6952.
“We are also helping to take in orders for other hawkers and traders here.
“I have also ventured into online food delivery service when the first MCO was implemented,” said Yeap.
Mee goreng stall operator Mohd Syafiq Mohd Sarif, 31, said the ‘drive-thru’ service was well-received by his regular customers.
“The business was badly affected after the food complex resumed business on May 30, but it is now slowly regaining its pace.
“In the beginning, people were afraid of coming here after Covid-19 positive cases were reported here last month.
“The ‘drive-thru’ service is receiving a decent response from our customers. We are seeing an increase of 10 percent in our business now’’ said Syafiq who also provides online food delivery service via DeliverEat.
Meanwhile, Batu Lancang assemblyman Ong Ah Teong said it would take a while for people to have confidence to visit any place that has reported Covid-19 cases.
“The hawkers are getting at least an average of 20 orders per day with the ‘drive-thru’ service which is something for them. Hope that it will keep increasing.
“But I see some of the stalls still remain closed. There are not many walk-in customers here due to the MCO. This makes it difficult for the hawkers to meet their daily target,’’ said Ong during his visit to the food court today.
Story & Pix by Tanushalini Moroter