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A growing appetite for home delivered meals during the pandemic has helped a family-owned restaurant business buck the Covid-19 downturn to create 45 new jobs.<\/p>\nA growing appetite for home delivered meals during the pandemic has helped a family-owned restaurant business buck the Covid-19 downturn to create 45 new jobs.<\/p>\n
Surging demand among Irish families for takeaway meals has encouraged Romayo\u2019s to open three new outlets in suburban Dublin.<\/p>\n
The chain currently employs 280 people in 19 premises across Dublin, Meath, Offaly and Kildare.<\/p>\n
Established as Macari\u2019s chip shops in 1959, the company rebranded to Romayo\u2019s in 2012 when it shifted focus to diner-based eating.<\/p>\n
Crucial to its operations is a fresh food storage and distribution headquarters at Rosemount Business Park in the capital.<\/p>\n
Romayo\u2019s managing director Dominic Macari said a strategic decision to develop their home delivery services at the turn of the century has left the business well placed to adapt to changed customer habits during the health emergency.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe concentrated heavily on establishing a home delivery service over the past 20 years, which has paid off for the business during the current situation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the current Covid-19 climate people have reverted back to the businesses that they have known growing up and that they are comfortable with.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs result, we have found that people who have grown up in our original areas as youngsters are now leading the customer base as we expand into new suburbs of the capital.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Macari works alongside his four children in the business. He said the 45 jobs will be created over the next 12 months.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is unusual to be talking expansion during these very difficult times for everyone, especially those with restaurant businesses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, we always like to take a long-term view and remain confident that Ireland will make a full recovery from the current situation.\u201d<\/p>\n