Nestlé Vietnam creating shared value for communities

Nestlé Vietnam has created various campaigns to support the national fight against the pandemic

After the pandemic outbreaks emerged, Nestlé Vietnam launched the STORM project to focus on protecting people, ensuring business continuity, and supporting the government, local authorities, and disadvantaged groups.

As part of its pandemic-prevention activities, the company worked with the Vietnamese government by supporting frontline forces such as doctors and nurses, volunteers, army and police forces, and government bodies including the Fatherland Front, Youth Union, and Women’s Union. It also went out of its way to support communities most affected by the pandemic, including COVID-19 patients in field hospitals, people in isolation centres, and disadvantaged children.

The support has included offering nutritional products for both adults and children, face masks and medical equipment for COVID-19 treatment hospitals, and financial contributions to Vietnam’s vaccine fund.

In 2021, Nestlé Vietnam contributed around $1.26 million in cash and in-kind to Vietnam’s government, partners, and communities, adding to the company’s total support to the country since the pandemic began (see box).

Supporting communities where the company operates is part of its “Creating Shared Value” approach, especially giving helping hands to communities in need. Nestlé Vietnam defined its strategies, campaigns, and action plans as well as leverage suitable channels not only to raise awareness on the pandemic challenges but to encourage Vietnamese people and consumers to stay positive and overcome the difficult time, and to appreciate the frontline forces for their dedication and sacrifice.

While it launched campaigns to support the government, promote an active and healthy lifestyle, and help small business owners during the first major phases of the pandemic, since early this summer Nestlé Vietnam has focused more on doctors, nurses, volunteers, and disadvantaged groups.

Some notable campaigns include “Stay Healthy, Stay Positive”, “Be Loved Saigon’s Streets”, “Zero Dong Market”, and the “Millions of wellbeing bags” programmes. These campaigns were jointly implemented with the company’s key partners and were promoted widely in the media.

Internally, Nestlé Vietnam has implemented many initiatives to keep people safe and healthy, connected, engaged, and motivated. Not a single Nestlé Vietnam employee has been laid off due to the pandemic and salaries have even increased. Its Total Rewards programme remained unchanged, with additional benefits given to frontline employees.

Nestlé Vietnam offers comprehensive healthcare support with vaccination arrangements for all staff; providing health and safety advice and guidance towards pandemic prevention and control.

There has also been a supply of thousands of personal protective equipment and sanitisation items; the organising of virtual exercises, both mentally and physically through a series of tips and talks; a medical support programme for employees and their families through the Nestlé Care Pack; and home office setup support for all office staff as well as a fully-equipped stay-at-work model for factories.