What measures have you had to implement to ensure production is not affected?
As a responsible employer, we deployed our business continuity planning, dictating radical modification of manufacturing and admin workflows (requested self-isolation of employees, where deemed necessary; implementation of modified shift patterns that include minimisation of the number of employees present within a set surface area at any given time – 2 sqm per person; remote working; dramatic increase of raw material inventory in volume; continual liaising with logistics partners to ensure all transportation avenues remain open) with the explicit dual aim of: 1. Primarily preserving the health, safety and well-being of all personnel; and 2. Maintaining operational normality: normality is defined as ensuring that the packaging-material supply/value chains function unperturbed or, at the very least, with minimal disruption. (We calculated a worst-case-scenario elongation of lead times by a maximum of two extra weeks)
Supply Chain
-All raw materials that Hatzopoulos utilize originate in the EU.
-Our supply-chain risk-management strategy dictates (at least) dual or multiple sourcing per component
-Presently, no specific information on potential supply-chain disruption on a pan-European level is forthcoming.
-Due to current volatility relative to what appears as lack of uniformity (and sometimes outright incongruity) in the imposition of measures/deterrents to curb the spread of the virus on the part of European governments, we constantly monitor the situation and are prepared to promptly act with the aim of mitigating/minimising disruption if/when it arose.
Internal operations
-Limitations on business trips and external visits to company premises were applied; travelling of Hatzopoulos personnel is allowable only if absolutely necessary and excludes geographical areas of high risk, which are defined by number of confirmed coronavirus cases and relevant guidelines issued by national and international authorities.
-Appropriate training was provided to all personnel on coronavirus means of transmission, symptoms, prevention and prescribed action in case of suspected incident.
-Extra personnel hygiene stations were installed; hand disinfection/washing guidelines were issued and compliance is being monitored.
-Limitations on access to premises of incoming truck drivers and couriers.
Hatzopoulos SA continuously monitor/review the evolution of the situation on the basis of updates/guidelines by the World Health Organization, national authorities and sectoral organizations, in order to readily adjust mitigation planning/applied measures and take any additional actions required.
Have you seen an increase in orders from suppliers/supermarkets rushing to replace the products whipped off the shelves in panic buys?
We observed a month-on-month increase of 6% in incoming orders in February (relative to January) and anticipate an increase of a further 11% in March. Our current projection, on the basis of the latest forecasts by large retailer/distributor (engendering ca. 70% of our turnover in the UK) indicates an increase of 21% in incoming orders at the end of April. (Relative to the end of January)
Have you received much in the way of advice, outside of the general public information given out by the government, about how to keep business going?
At this moment in time, we have received no concrete guidelines or clear business/sector-specific assistance on any aspect of the crisis, apart from abstract sloganeering and instructions by health organisations.
