When MILO flew off supermarket shelves during the COVID-19 panic buying, the Nestlé factory at Smithtown rose to the challenge to help keep cupboards across the country stocked.
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The factory team played an essential role, quickly adjusting to new measures and changing work practices to keep themselves and the community safe.
"The whole workforce, without exception, has done an awesome job. They understand the importance of their role in the middle of these exceptional times," Nestlé Smithtown Factory manager Mathew Oram said.
"While we have always had strict hygiene standards, we put additional safety measures and protocols in place to make sure our factory remains a safe space to work."
Many businesses have had to adjust in these unprecedented times, and the factory at Smithtown is no different.
"Everyone has been forced out of their comfort zone, and they've done an extraordinary job," Mathew said.
"Like any factory, we have routine maintenance needs, as well as a major upgrade we've planned in the coming months, and we've had to use a range of technologies to run often complex technical maintenance operations remotely."
While we might be on the other side of COVID-19 restrictions, many businesses have had to close their doors permanently.
Fortunately, the factory at Smithtown was supported by other local businesses, an act, which Mathew says Nestlé is very grateful for.
"Nestlé is grateful to the other local businesses who have supported the factory's operations," he said.
"Given the importance of cash flow to small businesses, we have relaxed our payment terms to our small suppliers to enable them to be paid as soon as possible."
Nestlé is committed to playing a role in supporting communities globally. In Australia, Nestlé donated over $2 million of its products to Foodbank Australia to support vulnerable members of the community.
