NRAI rolls out scheme to help restaurants tide over Covid-19 crisis

The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has set up a platform, Rise for Restaurants, to help its members tide over the Covid-19 crisis.

On the platform, patrons can buy virtual cash worth Rs 1,000 from restaurants, which they can redeem once the lockdown lifts, according to a statement. 

The scheme, which offers a 25% discount, requires a payment of Rs 250 at the time of purchase, while the rest can be paid when customers dine at the restaurant, it said. The virtual cash is valid for six months from the date of purchase, it added.

The NRAI represents over 5,00,000 restaurants, which employ over seven million people. 

Read: Coronavirus India LIVE updates

“The NRAI has developed this, keeping in mind the current plight of its members and their employees… (The) programme recognises the concern that customers may have regarding the future recovery of restaurants, and therefore, only requests 25% of the virtual cash value upfront. We have no doubt that customers will come out to support their local favourites,” Gauri Devidayal, managing committee member and partner at NRAI, said.

The scheme is live in several restaurants, including Barbeque Nation, Café Delhi Heights, Farzi Café, Mamagoto, Monkey Bar, Olive Bar & Kitchen, Social and The Beer Café, the statement said.

Read: Restaurants to shut down dine-in services; kitchens to remain open for online orders

The NRAI, established in 1982, is governed by a committee of over 35 restaurant CEOs and owners representing national and international brands from the food and beverages (F&B) sector. It has a presence in Mumbai, Gurugram, Bengaluru, Kolkata, New Delhi and Noida.

In February, the NRAI had asked the Department for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) to classify food aggregators as ecommerce marketplaces. The lobby body had also raised concerns on exclusivity, private labels, unbundling of delivery and order generation — issues that had soured relations between food aggregators and restaurant owners.