Pandemic COVID-19 has meant a number of challenges for all economic sectors, testing capabilities and adaptive response of many companies. In that vein, Alicorp, developed an agile business continuity planning that has allowed, through four lines of action to address this crisis.
From the earliest days of national emergency, Alicorp took a triple commitment: to protect the health of its employees, supporting communities where it operates and continue to supply the market. In relation to the welfare of its employees, the company has established strict safety protocols at its plants and implemented remote work for non - critical positions. From the front helps communities, it has provided an investment of 15 million soles, through the #AyudaAlQueAyuda initiative in all countries where it operates, in order to help the vulnerable population and authorities who face emergency .
To ensure the supply of essential goods in the market, the company has taken some actions such as the prioritization of categories as well as the adaptation of production lines and distribution to meet demand while taking care of their staff. With customers, Alicorp has implemented virtual spaces to share information and learn more about the needs they have, and has also created a return plan with benefits that allow them to respond to this situation.
Another important approach has been to maintain liquidity levels of the company, taking preventive measures and adjustments based on different scenarios that will optimize the response of the business.
Over the coming months the company will continue to adapt to the changing needs of its customers and consumers, developing schemes to revive its operations and respond to consumer trends, leveraging their enablers of innovation and digital transformation.
Results by business
During the first quarter of 2020 (1T2020) Alicorp achieved growth of 10.0% in sales compared to the same period of the previous year, reaching 2.400 million soles, explained by the good performance of its business during the months of January and February, according to financial statements filed today with the Superintendency of Securities Market (SMV).
In terms of profitability, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) standard, excluding non - recurring expenses during the first quarter of 2020 increased by 18.9%; while the EBITDA margin was 14.3%.
Consumer business Massively Peru increased its sales by 12.5% compared to the same period of 2019. This growth responds to the inclusion of the results generated by Intradevco in January 2020, changes in consumption trends in households as well as higher sales the modern canal. As for International Mass Consumption, growth was observed
7.7% across the division. The result is based on higher sales volumes of laundry products in Argentina, oils and butters in Bolivia, and pastas and care products home in Ecuador.
B2B business grew 4.0% due to an increase in platforms Bakery (7.8%) and Industrial Customers (2.7%). Gastronomy sales remained stable despite the closure of restaurants over the last two weeks of March. For its part, the food business balanced Aquaculture (Vitapro) showed an increase of 8.1% due to increased sales in the segment of food for salmon in Chile (45.2%). Regarding business Molienda this I grew 20.1% in sales, based on the delay of the winter campaign of soybeans in Bolivia.
about #AyudaalqueAyuda
Alicorp #AyudaAlQueAyuda implements the initiative and makes available the donation valued at 15 million soles in order to support the most vulnerable and those heroes who are on the frontlines through the delivery of food and cleaning products. This commitment includes supporting the authorities with business platforms and knowledge that can help manage national emergency.