26th of March, 2020.
To all valued Customers and Suppliers;
For more than 100 years, DAABON has lived by its motto, From Soil to Market, to provide high quality safe and sustainable ingredients. This way to operate has allowed us to adapt and respond rapidly with contingency plans in response to the challenges that Covid-19 has brought to the global society. A formal COVID Task Force was established in DAABON, this is coordinated by senior advisors in health and safety, human resources and the executives at senior level. We would like to highlight the following steps and decisions that have been taken over the last few days, by the Task Force Team, to further protect the health and safety of our team, whilst mobilising resources to ensure our customers continue to receive the high level of service they have come to expect from DAABON Group worldwide: DAABON GROUP operations in Colombia and the rest of the world: “Business open as usual." Office Place:
To maintain a safe and sanitary work environment, the company has led an intensive campaign on the identification, prevention and management of the disease. This includes hand-washing procedures, access to processing facilities and handling products.
None essential travel has been restricted (nationally and internationally), and any person that has been exposed to airports is isolated to a 14 days quarantine.
All external face-to-face meetings both within DAABON offices and external premises.
All visitors and audits have been postponed using the mechanisms in place to prolong the validity of standards.
Homeworking office-based staff has been implemented both in headquarters and throughout the global operations, to ensure the business is open as usual.
Those employees remaining in the headquarters office will be committing to the social distancing of 2 meters based on official guidance.
Any person with symptoms associated with common cold or COVID-19 is self-isolated and permanent supervision is carried out by a specialized physician.
Active communications channels have been created in the event that employees, friends, or close family members present the symptoms, to support how to proceed with their care.
Agricultural Site and Factories:
They are all working flat out following government guidance, to ensure the food supply chain continues with minimal interruptions.
Special clean regiment for a member of staff accessing the premises has been implemented following health and safety and the government guidelines.
We have an increasing amount of raw ingredients stored in processing facilities to avoid disruptions due to possible civil unrest.
Wider Society:
More than 100,000 soap bars are being distributed within the next 6 weeks to our most vulnerable communities.
We are actively working with the local communities to educate on effective habits to foment prevention, hygiene, education on symptoms, and procedure in case of infection.
We have confirmed a local food bank to support all those in need and from the most deprived areas.
Our soap factories both in Colombia and in Scotland (Soapworks Ltd) are working flat out to continue manufacturing millions of soap bars, playing a key role in handling the pandemic crisis.
Customers - Supply Chain in the UK: We have seen an out of trend shipping disruptions, this means that even though our safety stock is being replenished to manage deliveries, we are dealing with some uncertainty. We are working to support our customers by increasing delivery frequencies and/or increasing stocks when possible. Suppliers in the UK: Our office is closed following government guidelines, until further notice. Instead, we are receiving electronic invoices and any communication by email. Do email electronic copy of invoices to accounts@daabon.com On behalf of our CEO, Manuel Davila Abondano, and the rest of the staff, we would like to thank our customers, suppliers and our entire network for their continued support as together we navigate our way through this unchartered waters. “We all have a role to play to overcome this global crisis.” If you require any further help or guidance regarding DAABON Group approach to handling COVID-19 crisis, please contact your usual representative or the COVID Task Force. On behalf of, Manuel Davila Abondano DAABON Group CEO
How to contact us: DAABON UK is working normal hours 9:30 – 17:30 Sales or urgent queries: aduque@daabon.com (+447899993719) Orders: orders@daabon.com, dbecerra@daabon.com
Technical: orders@daabon.com Accounts: accounts@daabon.com
General Information: www.daabonuk.com General questions to the formal COVID taskforce: info@daabon.com
Stay Home – Be Calm – Wash Your Hands