Hoi An's Mango Group launches a new brand in challenging times

While restaurants around the globe have been pondering an uncertain coronavirus future, Hoi An's Mango Group took the bold step of launching a new delivery-based brand and cafe. Urban Fresh began delivering gastro-cafe cuisine in March during lockdown . With Vietnam easing coronavirus restrictions this week, founders Tran Duc and Ben Attwater have added their new cafe space.

Urban Fresh Hoi An - photo - Urban Fresh

During the days of lockdowns and social distancing, the pivot to delivery was a necessity for restaurants around the world. Delivery’s been the best hope owners have had for keeping some cashflow on the books, kitchens active and brands in the public eye.

Tran Duc and Ben Attwater from Hoi An's Mango restaurant group, took a step further. While they were forced to temporarily close the doors on some of the heritage town’s best loved and most established eateries, like Mango Mango and Mango Rooms, they decided to launch Urban Fresh, a new brand and food concept.

Thinking Travel spoke with Australian co-founder Ben Attwater, last week.

He told us the Urban Fresh concept has been brewing for some time.

"As the coronavirus became more serious and we could see that Hoi An's restaurants would soon be forced to close, we decided to go out with something new, with strong delivery, that seemed like a good fit for people stuck at home. It worked well, and now things are opening up again in Vietnam, we’ve opened the cafe space too”, he said.

"We've temporarily repurposed the kitchen at ThirtySeven Woodfired Grill + Bar and Chef Alonso Zarate and his team are now preparing a menu of elevated gastro cafe food. It's fresh, local and organic where possible. You can also be naughty, have a burger and a local craft beer, and feel good afterwards. Super food's on the menu too".

"The menu's concise but the range is broad - something new in Hoi An. There are salads, wraps, burgers, pastas and daily specials."

“Hoi An’s heading into summer, things are opening up, and we’re expecting a strong bounce from the domestic and expat markets. The beaches and the food scene in Hoi An will be a popular escape with shutdown-weary locals and residents. Hoi An has a special vibe right now and there are great deals too. “

Ben emphasised the effort that's gone into getting the Urban Fresh delivery process right. He said, "The packaging is plastic-free and a specialised Urban Fresh delivery team has been recruited to ensure extra hygiene standards are followed from the kitchen to the customer's door."

Urban Fresh has been open 4 weeks in what must be one of the most competitive delivery markets in Vietnam. 70 of Hoi An's restaurants have been offering take-away to keep the doors open during the coronavirus shutdown.

Urban Fresh is now operational for delivery and from its heritage space in Hoi An’s old town.

Urban Fresh
37 Phan Boi Chau St
Hoi An
https://www.urbanfreshhoian.com/