More than a third of food and beverage companies are adding new health and safety procedures

Exclusive BNP Media survey details impact of the coronavirus pandemic on food and beverage manufacturers.

The coronavirus pandemic has food and beverage companies rethinking some everyday efforts. More than a third of food and beverage companies — 38% — are incorporating additional health and safety procedures into their business plans in comparison to six months ago, according to “Food & Beverage Manufacturing Industry, Industry Perspective on the Challenges of Today, Week of 3/23/20.”

The survey-based report was published by BNP Media-owned Clear Seas Research. BNP Media is the parent company of Dairy Foods.

When asked about the specific actions their companies are taking to keep their employees healthy, 91% of respondents said they were encouraging hand washing. Other responses that made the top five include:

Promoting social distancing: 86%.
Increasing frequency of cleaning/sanitation procedures: 85%.
Providing hand sanitizer/antibacterial soaps: 80%
Eliminating/reducing employee business-related travel: 69%.

In terms of the coronavirus pandemic’s impact on operations, 64% of respondents indicated that they have seen a decline in new business development activity in comparison to a year ago, while 12% said they have noted no change. Almost a quarter of respondents (23%), meanwhile, reported an increase in new business development activity.

More than half of respondents (54%) reported a decline in business spending, while 32% indicated there was no change — and 14% actually reported an increase.

The research also showed that 56% of planned business is on schedule, while 27% has been delayed and 17% has been canceled.

When asked about their greatest food and beverage manufacturing concerns, 78% of respondents cited the current economy. Coming in close behind were achieving business goals over the next three months (75%) and achieving business goals over the next six months (73%). Rounding out the top five responses were business stability for the next 12 month (69%) and supply chain disruptions (66%). Moreover, more than a quarter of respondents (28%) indicated their companies expect to lay off at least some of their employees.