LVMH, the owner of Louis Vuitton, recently announced its initiative to convert its cosmetics factories into hand sanitizer producers to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
The French-based perfume maker, which produces scents for companies like Christian Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy, and, of course, Louis Vuitton, said in a press release on Sunday that it intends on producing the hand sanitizer at its factories in France for distribution across 39 hospitals in the region. The distribution of the gel began on Monday.
“Through this initiative, LVMH intends to help address the risk of a lack of product in France and enable a greater number of people to continue to take the right action to protect themselves from the spread of the virus,” the company stated in a news release.
According to the New York Times, LVMH anticipates it will make 12 tons of hand sanitizer within its first week and said that it would “continue to honor this commitment for as long as necessary.”
Speaking of Keeping Your Hands Clean
U.S. distilleries are also making efforts to help the dire situation. They have begun repurposing alcohol to make sanitizing solutions and are handing them out to their customers for free. No doubt, it’s inspiring to see so many retailers and other companies taking initiative!
The Absolut Company has said the vodka producer is also “happy to help.” “We can deliver the neutral alcohol by itself if the receiving authorities can help with the rest,” tweeted Paula Eriksson, Absolut’s Communications Manager.
Online Grocery Shopping Is Surging
Blue Apron, American ingredient-and-recipe meal kit service, saw its stock surge more than 70%, to $6.55, on Tuesday. Consumers who are “social distancing” are likely to continue ordering in the near future. Services such as Blue Apron answer a dire need in this regard. It comes after the company reported a year of losses and declines in sales and customers.
The retail giant, Amazon, has sold out of certain household items due to its increase in online shopping. It also said that it is adding another “100,000 jobs at its fulfillment centers and delivery network due to the coronavirus outbreak.”
Baldor’s home delivery service, are overwhelmed by demand as some Americans are bracing for possibly months of isolation.
“We want to get that food out into the public. Dire times call for dire measures,” said Ben Walker, Baldor’s vice president of sales. “We buy every single day. We only carry two-days’ worth of inventory at any given time and are able to adjust pretty quickly.” He also added that “Foodservice has really come to a halt. We have the food, and we have the logistics and are able to get the food out there.”
What About The Last Mile?
Among other guidelines, delivery personnel, kitchen, packing areas, and delivery vehicles around the world are now also being asked to ensure hygiene and sanitation. One of the guidelines states that “All last-mile delivery staff suffering from symptoms of common cold and flu should be taken off from their duties.” Makes sense.
Here’s to more clean hands.