Zoe's Meats supplied the deli meats, bacon and some cheeses to make approximately 15,000 meals for those in need during the COVID-19 Pandemic. George Gavros, Founder of Zoe's Meats, says, "When COVID hit us in Mid-March 2020, more than 50% of our business was to restaurants, hotels, cafes and restaurant distributors. We instantly had three problems. One, our customers closed and did not place orders. Two, we had inventory for them that they did not want. Three, they could not pay their bills. It was a humbling experience."
In the midst of this difficult situation, Zoe's Meats had to furlough employees and brace for a period of rough times. Gavros highlights, "We went through this when we were in Santa Rosa and the fires were less than a half mile from our warehouse. We lost power for about 10 days, we got shut down, and we learned how to persevere. This go around though, it was different. Everyone was affected in the restaurant world."