Home deliveries proved very popular during coronavirus lockdown for Inverness businesses
Home deliveries were a surprise hit for two Inverness businesses during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Perk, in Church Street, organised virtual doughnut and whisky sessions together with the nearby Malt Room bar and Peter Henderson got on his bike to deliver bags of his Milk Bar’s own roast of coffee.
Nicole Mclennan, who runs coffee and doughnut shop Perk, said they predominantly offered a takeaway service and trialled the home delivery service during lockdown.
She said it had proved successful and added: “We had no order system in place and we had to take the orders by hand. There were 150 orders on the first weekend – we thought it would be good if we reached 30.”
The online tasting sessions were also popular, with up to 180 participants from as far afield as London. She said the doughnuts and miniature whiskies were posted out in airtight containers.
Mr Henderson, who runs the Milk Bar along with John Ewart, said their coffee was roasted by Inverness Coffee Roasting Company. He said: “Some people would ask me to deliver to their friends and for different reasons they wanted bags of coffee delivered to them.”
They also organised competitions, including where people could nominate key workers, and it helped to maintain their profile during lockdown.
Mr Henderson said they mainly did takeaway orders but they also had a couple of tables outside their Victorian Market premises. He said: “Takeaway is very popular.”
He felt it was important for local businesses to support each other and added: “I don’t mind promoting my rivals.”
