No-touch delivery and takeaway services are methods of providing food to customers with as little human contact as possible. This includes person-to-person contact, as well as contact with the food while it is being prepared and packaged. The purpose of no-touch delivery is to eliminate cross-contamination of food and prevent the spread of pathogens such as coronaviruses.

How to set up contactless delivery and takeout

If your business already offers restaurant delivery, you can take it a step further by setting up contactless delivery. Check out the steps below to implement contactless delivery service and contactless takeout for your customers:

1. Create a separate contactless menu

Creating separate menus for your delivery and takeaway services can help make the process more efficient. Not all foods on the menu are suitable for contactless delivery. Choose dishes that do not require hand assembly after cooking, such as pizza, grilled sandwiches and hot soups.

Avoid hand-prepared, uncooked dishes such as salads and cold sandwiches.

2. Train your chefs on contactless cooking procedures

The key to no-touch cooking is to have zero hand-to-food contact after the food leaves the oven, even with gloves on.

Develop a non-contact procedure for each item on your new menu and review the process with your kitchen staff.

Use only sanitized cooking tools and make sure utensils, spatulas and pizza peel handles never touch cooked food.

Don't pack food by hand, instead use spatulas, tongs and other utensils to transfer food directly from the oven to takeaway containers.

3. Choose the right take-out container

Choose take-out containers that can be easily sealed without touching the lid or the inside of the package.

If you use hinged-lid containers, try using larger containers. The larger space makes it easier to put food inside with tongs or a spatula.

Consider using tamper-evident containers so your customers know the package has not been opened after sealing.

Label each contactless package to remind your staff and customers that the dish was prepared through a contactless process.

4. Establish contactless payment

Set up payment options on your website or online ordering app.

Contactless payments can also be made the old-fashioned way over the phone. Train your staff to request and enter the correct credit card information in the POS system.

5. train your delivery and takeout employees

Delivery drivers should be trained to leave food orders or deliveries outside customers' front doors.

Designate a space near the entrance of your business for takeout orders. There should be at least six feet between the pick-up and delivery location and any working employees.

Your waiting room or front lobby will be a convenient location for motorized storage units for takeout orders. Instruct your takeout team to clearly label orders and place them in storage units so customers can pick them up without having to enter your building.

6. Market your contactless delivery service

Highlight your contactless delivery and takeaway services through your website, social media accounts and emails.

Describe your contactless delivery service in detail and outline each step in the process.

Encourage customers to remove their food from the takeaway container and dispose of the packaging immediately.

If you're looking for a way to provide your customers with the safest takeout and delivery service possible, contactless delivery may be the answer. By limiting hand contact during the cooking process, you can ensure that menu items are safe to eat. Eliminating person-to-person contact with your customers also reduces the risk of spreading bacteria such as coronavirus.