PARADISE BEVERAGES
Company powers on to produce free sanitiser
Fiji’s business sector has joined the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19 in Fiji. This week, leading alcohol beverages manufacturer, Paradise Beverages, has commenced producing more than 25,000 litres of hand sanitiser for distribution to the people of Fiji.
The sanitiser will be free.
Lautoka Distillery
The company’s distillery in Lautoka, which is mostly known for its spirits with brands including Bounty Rum, Regal Gin and Whiskey, will shift its production to alcohol-based hand sanitisers to help address the supply issues currently faced by most Fijians.
General Manager of Paradise Beverages, Mike Spencer, said the commitment is possible because of the strong relationships that Paradise Beverages has with Fiji’s business community.
Mr Spencer said: “We are all committed to protecting the safety of our people and Fiji.
“Our team recognised the growing need for sanitiser in March and were quick to create a 40 litre test batch per the World Health Organisation’s recipe.
“The Ministry of Health has tested and approved the sanitiser. “Since March we’ve been working with a number of companies to procure the ingredients and services needed to make, and importantly distribute, more of the hand sanitiser under these challenging conditions.
Ingredients
“I would like to thank Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji, the Market Development Facility Fiji, Ecolab Fiji, Sopura Australia and the Fiji Sugar Corporation for their significant contributions.
“The Fiji Sugar Corporation has made an impressive contribution of 100 tonnes of molasses.
“As molasses is an ingredient in our alcohol production, and alcohol is 70 per cent of hand sanitiser, this means we’ll reach the hands of thousands more Fijians – literally.” said Mr Spencer.
The 25,000 litre batch of hand sanitiser will be delivered by Coca-Cola Amatil Fiji to hospitals, medical centres, and villages in 1000 litre and 20 litre vessels.
Once delivered it will then be distributed at the discretion of medical staff and community leaders. Mr Spencer added: “This is an expensive exercise. We have the capacity to make more sanitiser and appeal to any business or organisation that is willing to help, to contact me at Paradise Beverages. “The more help we get, the more sanitiser we can make and distribute free of charge.”