Bolay served over 3,000 meals for nurses, doctors, and first responders on Wednesday, April 1st
Bolay, a local restaurant chain based in South Florida took the state of the unknown and embraced it by doing what they do best, serving great food to the local heroes of their community. On April 1st, over 3,000 heroes on the frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic were greeted with a complimentary Bolay bol and a smile.
4 years ago Bolay set out on a mission to inspire guest’s with fresh food and living bold. Like any start-up, the first few years are always the toughest and to say Bolay hasn’t been sent for a tailspin would be an understatement. “Preparing for a sudden pandemic is something I don’t think anyone was or could have been fully prepared for,” says CEO, Chris Gannon. “Hurricanes are what we know down here in Florida and they always come with somewhat of a heads up, but this, this is different”.
With a constant change of direction, Bolay has had to pivot quickly, to ensure our Teams and our Guests are being provided the best food, in a safe and immaculate environment, the Bolay way. This doesn’t mean that Bolay’s philanthropic side of the business came to a halt. “A core part of our ethos is to support our local community, and despite the uphill battle we are all fighting right now, we want to show our support to those who are seeing the impact first-hand.” Chris says. First responders which included law enforcement and health care workers, enjoyed a free Bolay meal on Wednesday in addition to food donations being made to local hospitals throughout the week. “We acknowledge the amount of pressure that has been put on these incredible members of our community and want to show our gratitude and appreciation. We recognize that they don’t have the safety net of working from home, and we believe it’s our duty to take care of those who take such great care of us.”
Bolay has the ability to reach thousands in the community and give fresh food in bulk quantities and family packs. “The grocery stores were not prepared for the influx of people coming in and wiping out the shelves. Our restaurants are capable of providing fresh food, ready to heat and ready to eat, in large quantity,” says Chris. “We realized quickly that our healthcare heroes were not able to join us for the build-your-own bowl experience in our dining rooms. So we set up curbside pick-up tents, where they can order online and simply drive by as a team member with gloves and a smile hands them their order”. Bolay has also set up free contactless delivery so guests can stock up on their favorite items, without leaving their homes or essential workplaces.
“I am beyond impressed by how quickly our 900+ Team Members have adapted to our temporary situation and how their attitudes continue to bleed our culture. At a time like this, with so many unknowns, it’s our culture that continues to strengthen and the All-In spirit really shines. I know this is something we will overcome and be stronger because of it. As we say – Bolay All Day!”
About Bolay
Bolay takes a fast-casual approach to fresh, bold and flavorful food that invigorates the palate. Created by Chris Gannon and his father, Tim Gannon, co-founder of Outback Steakhouse, the restaurant invites diners to build bowls for lunch and dinner, packed with nutrient rich superfoods and tasty proteins. With ingredients that uniquely customize bold, innovative flavors, including GFFS certified gluten-free selections, Bolay innovates the build your own bowl experience, and pairs it with infused teas, and local craft beer and wine. To learn more about Bolay, please visit www.bolay.com, ‘Like’ Bolay on Facebook, or follow @Bolay on Instagram and Twitter. For press/marketing questions and additional statements please contact 561.281.4802 or email [email protected]