The growing danger of the spread of COVID 19 virus in our midst requires of us to closely monitor institutional measures and agility in response bearing in mind primarily the protection of employees’ health, as well as the sustainability of the business in the long run
The growing danger of the spread of COVID 19 virus in our midst requires of us to closely monitor institutional measures and agility in response, but also the anticipation of possible development scenarios as well as adaptation of the company system to new business circumstances, bearing in mind primarily the protection of employees’ health, as well as the sustainability of the business in the long run with adequate adaptation to the situation we find ourselves in.
We in Atlantic Grupa have continued with current production, since our core business activity is primarily related to food and drinks, as well as the distribution of our own and mainstream products (alimentary and hygiene products). In addition, our pharmaceutical chain Farmacia is extremely active as an important determinangt in the health care of the population and the supply chain of medicines and medical equipment.
Atlantic Grupa has already been implementing protocols pursuant to the highest standards of food safety and security, both in production and distribution-logistics processes, and in the conditions of the epidemic additional strict measures and special protocols were introduced to protect the health of all employees and our partners in accordance with the recommendations of health organizations and national headquarters. In order to ensure that the prescribed procedures are followed with the utmost understanding for their application, all current information is continually shared through the company communication channel system, which is essential in this situation to keep employees and their loved ones as secure as possible.
We are actively monitoring the development of the situation, listening to the recommendations of national headquarters, and striving not only to implement the prescribed protection measures that we apply in all markets and locations, but also to act proactively in our environment. We have provided protective equipment timely (masks, gloves, suits where needed) that is applied according to clearly defined and widely available operating instructions, with regular and frequent disinfection of all spaces and facilities/plants. Also, we organizationally separate shift teams in production, with a mandatory measure of social distance, in order to minimize contact as much as possible and continue with the smooth running of business processes. The transport of employees to work is provided within the company organization, in concordance with all prescribed measures of protection and distancing.
Atlantic Grupa has approximately 5,500 employees in its system, of which more than 1,800 have been working from home for the third consecutive week already. In addition to preventive work from home, employees, based on personal needs, have the opportunity to choose the option of babysitting for children up to 12 years of age. Paid part-time leave has also been introduced for employees who are unable to do their regular work, so most of our field workers are currently at home. For those workers who continue to carry out their work duties on the field or at the premises of the company, in order to ensure regular supplies and to prevent shortages, along with the abovementioned maximum protection measures, additional financial incentives have also been provided in addition to regular pay starting on 16 March and until further notice.
Since Atlantic Grupa is financially stable and in 2020 we have entered with excellent results, we are currently successfully dealing with disruptions in the business of the company as well as market problems caused by the COVID19 pandemic in the wider environment. This in particular means difficult transportation of goods (raw materials and finished products), increase in inventories, changes in production organization, partial increase in prices of raw materials and services in certain segments… Given the uncertainty of the duration of this crisis, it is ungrateful to forecast, but we are considering different scenarios in order to continue to maximize the company’s operations in the future.
In addition, Atlantic Grupa, as a socially responsible company, has continued to take care too of the community in which it operates, in the manner of further enhancing our efforts to assist the environment through targeted donations, both in goods and in the procurement of the currently most needed medical equipment and materials necessary for the effective work of health institutions, in all the markets in which we operate.