Challenges of managing catering companies in Zadar during the COVID-19 pandemic

U ovom radu predstavljeni su rezultati istraživanja na temu izazovi upravljanja ugostiteljskim objektima u vrijeme pandemije COVID-19. Objašnjeni su temeljni pojmovi poduzetništvo, krizni menadžment, poduzetnik u poteškoćama, ugostiteljstvo i poslovanje u vrijeme pandemije. Pandemija je utjecala na razna područja poslovanja, ali fokus je najviše na ugostiteljstvo, ugostiteljske objekte, njihove vlasnike, zaposlenike i klijente. Istražen je utjecaj pandemije COVID-19 na ugostiteljske objekte u Zadru. Primarno istraživanje provedeno je metodom ispitivanja putem ankete u kojoj je sudjelovalo 90 ispitanika, od kojih je bilo 30 vlasnika, 30 zaposlenika i 30 klijenata. Rezultati su pokazali da su vlasnicima najveći problemi bili upravljanje financijama zbog zatvaranja i značajno smanjenog prihoda, a uz istovremeno zadržavanje iste visine najma i svih ostalih fiksnih troškova. Zaposlenicima je pogodovala pomoć države za isplatu plaća, ali je i dalje ostao strah za radno mjesto i egzistenciju njihovih obitelji. Klijetima je najviše smetalo zatvaranje lokala, dok su zadovoljni mjerama zaštite protiv širenja pandemije. Pozitivne strane krize bile su zahvalnost za ono što se prije uzimalo zdravo za gotovo, bolja komunikacija i organizacija poslovanja te poticaj na bolje upravljanje poslovnim i osobnim financijama kao priprema i preventiva za neke buduće krize.This paper presents the results of research on the challenges of managing catering facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The basic concepts of entrepreneurship, crisis management, entrepreneur in difficulty, catering and business at the time of the pandemic were explained. The pandemic has effected various areas of business, but the focus is mostly on catering, catering facilities, their owners, employees and customers. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on catering facilities in Zadar has been investigated. The primary research was conducted using the survey method through a survey in which 90 respondents participated, of which 30 were owners, 30 employees and 30 clients. The results showed that the owners had the biggest problems in financial management due to closure and significantly reduced income, while maintaining the same amount of rent and all other fixed costs. Employees benefited from state aid for wage payments, but fears for their job and their family’s livelihood remained. The clients were most bothered by the closure of the premises, while they were satisfied with the measures of protection against the spread of the pandemic. The positive sides of the crisis were gratefullness for what was once taken for granted, better communication and business organization, and an incentive for better management of business and personal finances as preparation and prevention for some future crises