Egg-free cake specialist Cake Box has relaunched its click-and-collect scheme, allowing customers to order cakes online and collect at one of its stores.

On 24 March, the business informed all franchisees that stores should be closed in line with government advice. However, having taken the time to review its operations and consult with franchisees, Cake Box has finalised new ways of working that allow it to provide a limited click-and-collect service to customers while ensuring the safety of staff.

As part of this, customers will not be allowed into stores to order cakes – instead, they will be able to order through the website and pick up via contactless collection at the door.

New safety measures include:

  • Initially operating with smaller teams in-store to allow for social distancing from colleagues;
  • Clearly demarking required distances for social distancing throughout the premises;
  • Requiring staff to wear PPE at all times including face masks and shields;
  • Contactless collection of product by customers at the door;
  • Implementing an enhanced personal and property hygiene regime.

Cake Box added that it would continue to review these processes and implement any and all further measures it felt were necessary to ensure everyone remained safe.

In a trading update earlier this month, the business said relatively low levels of rent and overheads would help its franchisee businesses recover from the impact of coronavirus.