ARD stands in solidarity with regional healthcare professionals and the companies of VIVESCIA Group

Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis, ARD and its 100%-owned subsidiary – Wheatoleo, a producer of bio-sourced surfactants for detergents in particular – have mobilised to rapidly produce hand sanitiser using the WHO protocol, initially to supply ARD and the employees of VIVESCIA Group within the cooperative's territory, as well as several other of the Group's subsidiaries' production sites: NEALIA, KALIZEA, Malteurop, and Grands Moulins de Paris (Marseille and Reims).
 
With the current shortage of hand sanitiser in France, and faced with growing demand from medical industry players and the state authorities responsible for guaranteeing our protection and health,  ARD quickly organised last week to ramp up production and thereby provide its contribution to the national effort.

Several tonnes of hand sanitiser have already been delivered to players in the Grand Est region, including the Nord Ardennes Charleville-Mézières Intercommunal hospital, Rethel hospital and retirement home, Amiens university hospital, local police stations, pharmacies, medical centres, and general practitioners. More requests continue to flood in.

To meet this demand, ARD is looking at ramping up production capacity from 5,000 to 7,000 L of gel per day, if possible. 

A big thank you to the Group's teams working on this solidarity initiative.