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Agrifood is one of the sectors that has remained most active during the crisis caused by the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. Its activity is essential for guaranteeing the supply to the population, which over this period has not only not suffered any interruption, but in some cases has even intensified. One such example is the case of Hero España's production plant in Alcantarilla (Murcia). 

The work of this company, which originated in Switzerland, during the crisis was crucial for guaranteeing the supply of basic food essentials. The demand for food products in both the national and international markets has been even more intense in the case of baby foods, at times even reaching peaks in demand of as much as 150% more than normal. In response, the Alcantarilla factory has stepped up its production and distribution activity.   

 

Charitable donation

This increase in activity due to the growth in demand has not affected another initiative of Hero's Spanish subsidiary, namely donating foods to the most disadvantaged sectors of society. Since the onset of the healthcare emergency, the company has delivered over 30 tons of its products to companies, who then distribute them to the most vulnerable populations in the region of Murcia itself and all over Spain.

The Spanish Food Bank Federation (Fesbal), Red Cross and Cáritas have been the main recipients of these products, with which Hero seeks to make up for the closure of school dining rooms which served a large number of children from vulnerable families each day. These donations have been supplemented by other initiatives in which the company has assessed what contribution it could make in each case.

 

Employee health and safety
This increase in production has been accompanied by measures to guarantee its employees' health and safety at all times. One of the most important is the delivery of protection equipment for employees who provide their services in person in the factory. Another measure is the implementation of teleworking for office staff whose presence is not essential in the daily running of the plant.

With the aim of safeguarding health and safety, an ongoing analysis of the situation and its development has been carried out in order to ensure the authorities' recommendations are followed at all times. The truck and van drivers working in the distribution network have also received food packages to make their working days more convenient.

 

A long-standing commitment
Hero's commitment to Spain goes back almost 100 years. Hero España set up its headquarters in Alcantarilla in 1922, and this plant in the town in Murcia manufactures many of its products. The Hero Baby division specializes in baby food and nutrition, and is particularly important as it manufactures all the products available on the market. The company's Hero Baby Nutrition Institute, recognized around the world, is also housed in these same facilities.

On the company website, Javier Uruñuela, General Manager Southern Europe says: “At Hero España we innovate to offer the best of nature to our consumers”.

 

Quality and competitiveness
In addition to innovation, Hero España has worked in recent years to improve the quality and competitiveness of its plant in Alcantarilla. After investing 13 million euros in this industrial complex between 2014 and 2016, in 2017 it redoubled its efforts to achieve a figure of 8.9 million euros in a single year. All these investments went toward implementing technical improvements.

Its investment figures, its commitment to installing its Baby Nutrition Institute in Spain and its engagement with society through its food donations are all good evidence of Spain's key role in the global strategy of this company, which was established in Switzerland in 1886. It is no surprise that Spain was one of the first countries Hero chose to begin its expansion, less than 35 years after it had been in the market.