Sustainable hospitality apparel brand pivots business to provide essential items to kitchen teams

On 19th March, sales and orders at sustainable hospitality apparel company, CREAM Collection, decreased to zero and remained that way for two weeks due to its client base of chefs and hospitality workers being stood down as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.

Founder and owner, Pam Burnett, had a decision to make – she could take stock, cut her losses and close down her business entirely or look at how to adapt her product offering and support and provide necessary equipment to the hospitality industry.

Pam was determined to find a way to help the hospitality industry and encourage the wider community to continue buying and enjoying meals from their favourite restaurants. 

With thanks to her encouraging customers, she chose the latter and launched a range of 100% organic cotton expandable face masks, designed and made in Australia, for those restaurant and hospitality workers providing home delivery and takeaways. 

CREAM Collection is the first Australian hospitality apparel brand to develop a bespoke mask to support and protect restaurant workers who are preparing and providing meals to customers; safely and hygienically. 

With the concerns about food handling and the spread of the COVID-19 virus through poor hygiene practises, Pam and her team set out to provide a product for those who serve customers from their restaurants, providore stores, or even those who deliver to customers’ front doors. 

Pam comments: “I’ve been providing 100% organic cotton workwear to the hospitality industry for over five years so knew there was a market for these products. Our face masks can be washed and sanitised at high temperatures and re-used to provide a cost-effective and long-term sustainable solution for businesses.

“After only one week of launching, we received an overwhelming response from the hospitality industry, both internationally and nationally, and I believe our face masks will also support other businesses who continue to serve the public such as supermarkets, food suppliers and delivery services who take responsibility in protecting their customers and community.”

Ben Devlin, head chef and owner of Northern Rivers restaurant, PIPIT comments: “We always wanted Pipit to be a place that could bring happiness to our community and our staff, at this point there is no happiness without safety. Cream Collection is providing a way we can offer a safeguard to both while maintaining the standards and style that our staff are used to” 
 

After switching from restaurant service to food care packages and a takeaway menu, Ben provided his team with the CREAM Collection masks, discovering they not only provide hygiene assurance to his customers, but also for his staff as they can now wear their new uniform without any discomfort. 

The face masks are made to order at $15.50 each, with the option to personalise and embroider a name or business logo.

For more information visit https://www.creamcollection.com.au/collections/face-masks-1. 

For more information, please contact: Emma Kirkaldy @ CRE8IVE on T: 0406 025 771 or emma.kirkaldy@c8.com.au