Quite extraordinary and quite an achievement. On the 26th March NZ officially went into Level 4 Lockdown and no one really knew the future would hold. What was known was the primary sector including our business was deemed “an essential business” and needed to adapt at lightning speed to a new set of rules. In the words of Henry Kissinger “its marvellous how a lack of alternatives clears the mind”. There was no choice, adapt now - put up your screens, change your picking, packing, shift and production patterns or shut down. Scary times.
Your frontline staff, our frontline staff that went to work as normal Thursday 26th March are heroes without doubt. Lockdown, we were told, literally meant shut your curtains, lock the doors, don’t go outside. And yet thousands of workers were required to turn up to work in orchards, packhouses and support crew as if nothing had really changed. I am sure our story is no different to yours – no if, buts or maybes – it was “how do we make this work now, today?”. Our Label manufacturing, service support and label supply were modified but never stopped. The total focus was to not let anyone down. Most definitely there are things we have learnt and will be changing for next season. Freight was not ideal at certain times and our raw material supply lines were too tight for my comfort.
I am looking forward to reconnecting face to face with you during June and July, hearing your feedback and specifically discussing your needs for the next 12 months.
I hope we all can recognise our heroes.