New innovations at Vapiano Decline in sales after scandals
Bonn · The Vapiano restaurant chain is planning to modernize its services to keep up with the times after a major decline in revenue.
After a series of scandals over the last half year, the pasta chain-restaurant Vapiano has faced a decline in sales, according to the chair of the company, Jochen Halfmann in an interview with General-Anzeiger. There had been accusations that the chain used expired ingredients and sold cheap shrimp as expensive prawns. Now, however, he is looking forward, putting negative headlines in the past and working toward new innovations.
As of July, there will be a completely new menu offering gluten-free options for every dish. Since May, there has also been a delivery service in select cities, which should be extended to many more restaurants by the end of the year. Vapiano wants to modernize and keep up with the times. “The depth of our innovations has lost speed,” explains Halfmann. By fall of this year, it will be possible to pay for a meal with your smartphone, charging it to your credit card.
Halfmann is also planning to launch online ordering options and table service. This will hopefully decrease the long wait times. These ideas are currently being tested. By 2020, Halfmann wants to double the amount of Vapiano restaurants worldwide from 176 to 400. “This year, we will be opening 34 new locations,” he says. There are 70 restaurants currently operating in Germany. This year, the goal is to increase revenue from 430 million euros (2015) to 500 million.
Translation: Geena Kloeppel
