Nestle, like most major international corporations, had to review its strategy on how to operate thorough the covid19 pandemic ensuring, at the same time, staff safety, product supplies and food security.
“Nestle too, had hiccups. At the beginning of the pandemic, it was a major concern, and it still is. We have been working hard to maintain our output for the customers," its new head of market for the Anglo-Dutch Caribbean region Josue De La Maza told Business Day. (The Anglo-Dutch Caribbean region covers operations in Trinidad, Jamaica and distribution in 19 Caribbean territories.)
The Switzerland-based food and beverage group, which has operated in Trinidad for 107 years, remained committed to working with stakeholders to enhance and promote sustainability, he assured.
[caption id="attachment_928688" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Nestle fruit juices on the production line at the Valsayn factory. - FILE PHOTO/ROGER JACOB[/caption]
The pandemic put pressure on its areas of operations, as it imports some raw materials for its production, and as many other sectors it too was hit with shipping, freight, and other import challenges.
The efforts by all levels of staff, De La Maza said, was critical to its survival and Nestle’s priority continued to be taking care of its staff for its successful operations.
“We are very proud of the team who worked hard in a pandemic. I feel very happy and proud of all the different units’ commitments. Our priority remains our people and things have been put in place to protect them in the factories, in the distribution centres, in the streets with sales and at the head office. We have a lot of protocols to ensure that safety is met.”
De La Maza said he intended to continue the work of his predecessor, which was in line with the company’s overall mission and vision in areas such as green sustainability and good corporate social responsibility. He said the company has a global green roadmap to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, which each Nestle branch was working towards.
“We have a lot of different objectives for different stations from packaging to recycling to reusability. We have switched our fleet to lower emissions, improving packaging, reducing food loss and waste, and promoting sustainable consumption.”
In addition, he said the company took its corporate social responsibility seriously and it has ramped up efforts to lend assistance in many areas that were hit hard by the pandemic, as well as working with its corporate partners in the region.
“We are looking towards making agriculture more sustainable especially in dairy sector. The volumes of milk in Trinidad and Tobago have decreasing over the years and there is need for us to invest more in feed, transportation, grass planting, corn, veterinary services, and artificial insemination.
“We have robust programme and are working with the local agencies, but we need to work harder and while there are many different factors involved, we h
