Protecting People and Communities is Important for D&G Business Continuity

Protecting People and Communities is Important for D&G Business Continuity

April 8, 2020

Jamaica’s most prominent brewery and beverage company, D&G, was featured on the March 6 edition of Jamaica and Manufacturers Exporters Association (JMEA) Instagram Live programme “The Productive Sector Speaks” to demonstrate how the company was keeping production going during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Head of Corporate Affairs Dianne Ashton Smith and Engineering Manager, Sheldon Sharpe shared discussion time and had engagements with the audience noting that the company had activated several measures aimed at protecting the 300 members of staff, their communities, the business and the economy on which their success depends.

They summarized the famed history of Red Stripe beer, first brewed in 1928, and gave an overview of the D&G company of which Heineken is the majority owner. The company has already provided support to the government's efforts to fight the pandemic by donating 1500 cases of the Malta beverage to old age infirmaries and also donating advertising allotments on print, electronic and outdoor media.

Ashton Smith said that the management team’s response has been to organize itself into three task force groups which meet three times per week. The groups are : health, safety and trust of employees; continuity of business; and contribution to communities. In addition to this, the COVID-19 response team meets twice each week.

The company has implemented processes to protect staff on the job, staff who are working from home and also to protect the products that they make and distribute. The mandatory work-from-home policy has been activated with only specific tasks being carried out on site, which includes the production line. The company has increased its sanitization schedule and made it more robust. No visitors are allowed on sites at this time.

Length of shifts have been adjusted to twelve hours, and the lag time between work shifts have been increased to ensure that teams do not mix with each other. Staff members who have to be on site do a temperature check on arrival and wear adequate personal protection equipment (PPEs). The nurse on duty maintains the observance of the guidelines and does health checks. Private transport contractors who transport staff follow a sanitization policy to deliver those services to staff of D&G.

Close inspection of staff records is also moving the company to deliver additional training and retraining modules and is sending-off staff who have accumulated vacation leave.

To maintain the company’s well-known high staff morale, there have been fun activities built into the HR response. The “Ask The Managing Director” virtual session opened the floor for any member of staff to teleconference in and directly talk to the head of the organization. The company had a virtual happy hour on the Facebook Workplace platform featuring music of the 1990s and celebrating the brands.

To support a healthy outlook on life, mental health tips are pushed out to staff, and the company has found a way to remind persons to take breaks from work as many are working at home alone. A virtual employee support network has been opened by phone and also via the Zoom teleconference platform. Fitness remains a feature and there are one-hour gym sessions, twice per week.

The social nature of enjoying beverages has hit the company hard, although production continues for the USA and UK markets. The demand and sales are not robust and adjustments are being made to the business plans to manage costs and cash as it is estimated that it will take about three months for the business to recover after the pandemic.

Relationships with contractors continue to be nurtured, including shippers and overseas clients which are important for this company that has product in 25 international beverage markets. Ashton Smith wrapped up the session by saying that the company will continue to act to protect its people and the economic well-being of the Jamaican economy. The comments during the broadcast were limited to the COVID-19 response. Set out below are general comments about the economy in the context of a large non-agricultural establishment such as Red Stripe.

The 2018 Report of the Jamaica Survey of Establishments (JSE), authored by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN) says that 23% of establishments in Jamaica had a website and 34.3% social media presence; establishments are extended to public sector entities such as ministries, departments and agencies, but excluded agricultural establishments such as farms. Maintaining seamless contact with clients, staff and customers should compel more businesses to maintain digital platforms that have current, relevant information. Although demand for its products is down at this time, Red Stripe has website and social accounts that can update information and reassure stakeholders through the global health pandemic.

The survey tells us that 89.9 % of businesses have fixed internet broadband, but ICT indicators monitored by STATIN tell us that in 2017, 36.9% of homes had a computer and 53% of homes had access to the Internet. These figures will impact on the effectiveness of the work-from-home policy across Jamaica. Some companies would have to support business continuity by providing laptop computers and perhaps also Internet services for some staff members.

The JSE notes that 2% of the total number of establishments said that they had overseas ownership, Red Stripe would be among this number and would be supported and directed by the global practices of its owners. It is also the part of the 2% of the number of establishments in Jamaica that export goods.With 300 employees, Red Stripe is in the 4.9% of establishments that employ more than 50 persons.

The high cost of electricity was noted by 35% of establishments as being the greatest factor preventing business success, Red Stripe has gone a long way to addressing this. In 2017, the company introduced LNG to its mix of energy solutions that included energy conversion of steam that is generated during production.

The company has survived many different kinds of crises, but, as its directors say, there has been none like this one. As the company is supported by strong policies and is committed to manage its cash and costs, it is well poised to overcome and to recover.

/gd