• The survey found that the pandemic is affecting packaging businesses in several ways.
    The survey found that the pandemic is affecting packaging businesses in several ways.
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Businesses around the world are gearing up to confront the period of uncertainty and difficulty that the coronavirus pandemic has brought.

In response to the pandemic, Pact Group has implemented screening protocols and questionnaires for all personnel and visitors entering company facilities. In a letter to customers, Pact Group managing director and group CEO Sanjay Dayal said the company would also introduce temperature testing of all personnel entering company facilities.

“We have been testing and revising all of our business contingency plans, by site and by product, to ensure that in the event there is a site closure, the disruption to any of our customers is minimised to the fullest extent possible,” Dayal wrote.

“As a supplier of essential goods and services for a number of critical industries, we are liaising with government to ensure that we remain fully operational during this difficult period.”

Dayal said the parts of the business involved in the supply of hygiene and cleaning products and goods and services to the grocery market had been responding to heightened demand.

“This has required us to divert some of our resources to these areas to ensure we are meeting the expectations of the community and the government,” he wrote.

As a result of this, Dayal wrote that there may be “impact to delivery times”.

The CEO’s letter noted that there had been no reported cases of Covid-19 at the company, as of 23 March.

Pact Group has also switched some of its production capacity to making hand sanitiser, in repsonse to an uptick in demand for the product.

Food & Drink Business

Cobram Estate Olives reported a weaker 1HFY26 result on earnings and profit, but held packaged goods sales broadly flat, grew its flagship Cobram Estate brand, and significantly strengthened its balance sheet ahead of the proposed California Olive Ranch (COR) acquisition.

The New South Wales government has invested $52 million to support the renewable manufacturing sector, including $20 million for Optimal Renewable Gas to convert agricultural organic waste from farms into a gas fuel at its Griffith Biohub.

Australian Vintage has flagged a stronger second half, saying it remains on track to deliver FY26 sales growth and free cash flow neutrality (excluding investments), despite a softer first half and break-even operating earnings.