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to provide Meals on Wheels with a selection of disinfectant products from across its health and hygiene portfolios, including household items from brands such as Glen 20, Pine O Cleen and Dettol. RB Hygiene ANZ General Manager Jérôme Lemaire says hygiene has never been more important than in the current climate. “As a leader in this space, we’re dedicated to supporting all Australians, though we’re cognisant that our nation’s most vulnerable, the elderly, may be struggling to get their hands on our products, particularly those who are currently self-isolating with limited support systems in place,” he said. “We want to do what we can to help them get through this.” RB Health ANZ General Manager Glenn Cochran added: “Whether delivering nourishing meals or simply lending an ear for a chat, Meals on Wheels is a lifeline for many elderly Australians. “We hope that by donating our products we can make a positive difference to the Meals on Wheels community, helping to ensure the health and wellbeing of its clients and volunteers, so it can safely continue to provide its much needed services in the face of the virus.” Products will be distributed over the next eight months to both Meals on Wheels clients and the volunteers who support them. This began in mid-April with the delivery of Glen 20 and Dettol hand sanitiser products in NSW. Meals on Wheels Australia President Sharyn Broer says the organisation is “thrilled” to be receiving this much- needed support from RB. “On one level,” she said, “it’ll be much appreciated by our clients as they try their best to keep their homes clean and healthy during this time. “It’s also great news for our volunteer network, who’ll be able to use the products to maintain hygiene while preparing and delivering meals.” Unilever supports stakeholders Unilever, home to brands including OMO and Surf, has introduced a wide-ranging set of measures to support global and national efforts to tackle the COVID-19 pandemic. The company says its actions are designed to help protect the lives and livelihoods of its multiple stakeholders, including its consumers and communities, its customers and suppliers, and its workforce. At the time of writing, Unilever said it would contribute €100 million ($182 million) to help the fight against the pandemic through donations of soap, sanitiser, bleach and food. “We’re deeply saddened by the terrible impact that coronavirus is wreaking on lives and livelihoods everywhere,” Unilever CEO Alan Jope said. “The world is facing its greatest trial in decades. We’ve seen the most incredible response from the Unilever team so far, especially those on the frontline of our operations in factories, distribution centres and stores. “We hope that our donation of €100m of soap, sanitiser, bleach and food will make a significant contribution towards protecting people’s lives, and that by helping to safeguard our workers’ incomes and jobs, we’re giving some peace of mind during these uncertain times. Our strong cashflow and balance sheet mean that we can, and should, give this additional support.” In Australia and New Zealand, Unilever’s factories are operating 24/7 to help keep shelves across Australia and New Zealand stocked with essential food, personal care and cleaning products. As the situation evolves in Australia and New Zealand, Unilever says it will continue working closely with its partners, customers, industry groups, government and the wider public to offer timely support wherever possible. For example, Unilever says it responded quickly to donate Dove soap to the NSW Department of Education for distribution to schools experiencing shortages due to stockpiling. Unilever has also provided funding to help Foodbank NSW and ACT employ paid casuals in lieu of corporate volunteer groups that have been cancelled due to new social distancing rules. This, it adds, will help Foodbank continue supporting Australians facing hardship, particularly as a result of the coronavirus. Unilever will also offer €500 million ($912 million) of cashflow relief to support livelihoods across its extended value chain. In addition, the company will protect its workforce from sudden drops in pay as a result of market disruption or being unable to perform their role, for up to three months. Unilever says it will cover its employees, contractors and others who manage or who work on its sites, on a full or part-time basis. Hand sanitiser production goes local Last month, Unilever Australia & New Zealand announced it would start producing hand sanitiser in Australia as it redirects existing deodorant production facilities to help meet national demand and help in the fight against COVID-19. The new Lifebuoy 150ml aerosol hand sanitiser, which contains 70 per cent alcohol and is claimed to kill 99.99 per cent of germs without water, will be produced in NSW, marking the return of Lifebuoy’s production to Australia. Unilever says that to ensure Australians and New Zealanders in need have access to this highly sought-after product, it is donating 150,000 cans of Lifebuoy hand sanitiser valued at more than $1 million (RRP $7.50 per can) to its longstanding partner, Foodbank, to manage distribution across Australia and New Zealand. The sanitiser will also be made available to the wider public and will hit shelves by the end of May in leading supermarkets. “We believe we have a social, medical, and moral obligation to make hand hygiene readily available,” Unilever Australia and New Zealand CEO Nicole TO PAGE 48 HOUSEHOLD MAY, 2020 RETAIL WORLD 47