PLEA FOR THE (DIGITAL) CHANGE

Neither as a star chef, nor as a TV star or entrepreneur: Stefan Marquard, who is also the father of the YOUNG WILD, has never wanted to conform. This also applies to his opinion on one of the greatest caesuras of the past century. Marquard sees the Corona crisis as anything but the apocalypse. In an interview with ROLLING PIN, he reveals why he bought his first laptop, sees the shutdown as an opportunity and why closing his restaurant once and for all might not be the worst option.

Stefan Marquard: "The Corona crisis is a unique opportunity for the gastronomy".

Porträt von of Stefan Marquard — Crisis? Opportunity! Stefan Marquard now wants to use the Corona time effectively to develop himself further.

So you also see the crisis as an opportunity?

Marquard: I actually see the crisis as an opportunity. It was clear that the big bang would come at some point. No one could have imagined what form it would take. No one could have imagined that it would paralyze the entire catering industry and everything that is knitted around it. But I said from the very beginning: Corona is probably the greatest blessing that has ever befallen mankind. The price seems extremely high, unfair, painful at the moment. But I believe that when the transformation is through, sooner or later we will all be grateful.

Probably Corona is the greatest blessing that has ever happened to mankind.

Why is that?

Marquard: Quite simply. One now automatically has time to question and put to the test everything one does, or has done. We can finally reflect: What have I done? Why did I do it? Was I successful with it? Does it make sense? Am I doing justice to my employees? Am I a good boss? But it is not only about business, but also about private life. Am I treating myself and my family well? We can really realign everything now for the future. And the future will be nothing like it once was.

How can companies deal with the future now, when they are fighting for their economic survival in the present?

Marquard: Yes, you have to digest the shock first. Then you also have to get upset about the state for a few more days. But at some point, the issue is over. That my money is getting less and less, that I'm on ice, that's all clear. But we have food, we have drink. We're running out of money, but that affects all of us. And we certainly shouldn't be moping around right now. We can finally listen to ourselves and allow new ideas.

So the Corona master plan is to reinvent ourselves now, think of new concepts now, and hold on to new ideas - and, if it's possible again, implement some of them.

Marquard: Not only that. You should really develop a plan for the future now, and also get the team involved. I don't have to wait until it's all over to do that. Because I don't know how long the whole thing will last. That's why it's even more important to look at what I can do now. Maybe there is a way I can make money with my skills.

How do I get my employees to think about ideas for the future when insolvency is currently on the cards and jobs are at risk?

Marquard: That's not easy. I'm sure that at least a third of all small businesses in the restaurant industry have to make a cut and realign themselves. Many businesses have been operating for many years in such a way that they can just about make ends meet. And I recommend to such people that they simply write down whether they enjoy it and whether they want to continue in this way. I simply say: Better an end with horror than horror without an end - without wanting to offend anyone, we're all in the same boat. But this is the chance for us to reposition ourselves.

Marquard: That is the issue. I would like to see a swarm thinking emerge from this time. Together we are strong. There have to be people who can talk turkey and move the masses. Those of us who are in the public eye should connect and speak one language together.

I am firmly convinced that in one to two years everything in the world will change completely. Because that's how long it's going to take for us to get a semblance of normalcy again. I suspect we'll have ups and downs until we find a vaccine - or until everyone is infected. But after that, there will be a different cohesion.

Isn't there also a certain risk that everything could go completely wrong?

Marquard: Of course, something can go wrong. But that's also important. Only failure makes a person strong. Once someone has failed, they go through the roof afterwards. But no one is condemned to do nothing - and certainly not to starve. You just have to want to, then you can achieve something.

Interview (in excerpts) in «Rolling Pin» 02.04.2020

COOKIES SETTINGS