- Parle Products will donate three crore packets of Parle G to the needy ones through government agencies amid the ongoing 21 days lockdown due to corona scare.
Biscuits Major Parle Products on Wednesday said it would donate three crore Parle G packets of biscuits in the next three weeks, particularly to the needy through government agencies with the country going for a 21-day lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic.
The company said its manufacturing units are operating with 50 percent of the workers holding government advisories to curb the escalation of coronavirus outbreak, but it is working to ensure that there is an adequate quantity of its goods on the market.
“We’ve agreed to work with government, donate three crore packs of biscuits through a government agency— one crore each in the next three weeks— particularly for those in need… We’re going to donate one crore packs of Parle-G biscuits per week for the next three weeks, effectively about three crore packs of biscuits,” Parle Products Senior Category Head Mayank Shah told PTI.
He said, “We’re also working to ensure that those who need food right now— there will be a lot of people whose lives will be disrupted, we’re going to work very closely with the government to make sure they’re not going hungry.”
Shah said, “As a result of the lockout, there’s a massive amount of panic buying and hoarding going on. People are going out and buying everything available in terms of food, including biscuits that’s perfect for this kind of situation because they have a longer shelf life and maintain freshness for a longer period of time.”
Shah said while the company’s factories and third-party suppliers operate with an average of 50 workers, Parle Products is “going all out and making sure we’re available in ample quantities on the market so there’s no panic”
“We’ve seen a lot of purchasing happening in packaged goods as well, including cookies, which is the main thing to be stored during this type of shutdown. We’ve made sure supplies are steady and not disrupted.”
Shah said while the Center has exempted biscuit manufacturers from lockdown restrictions, the business is facing problems in some pockets, as local authorities have not allowed raw materials and finished products to be transported.
Another positive news coming out from the ongoing scare, it is great to see big companies coming to help the poor and needy ones in the time of crisis.