MEXICO CITY — At the center of Grupo Bimbo’s purpose, philosophy and mission are its people. Because of this, the global baking company — which operates just shy of 200 bakery plants in 33 countries — set gold-standard COVID-19 protocols to keep its 135,000 employees safe during this global pandemic.
At the American Society of Baking’s virtual BakingTECH conference held Feb. 16-18, Javier Gonzalez, Grupo Bimbo executive VP, shared some of the company’s best practices for COVID-19 safety.
“COVID is still with us, unfortunately, and even with the vaccine, it’s a challenge that we still face,” Gonzalez said.
With a combination of preventive and predictive protocols, Grupo Bimbo puts the safety of its associates worldwide at the forefront of preventing COVID spread inside its workplaces. PCR-based testing is widely used to test symptomatic workers as well as antibody tests for those who are asymptomatic but may have been in close contact with an associate who diagnosed with the illness.
“That’s an important tool for us,” Gonzalez said. Grupo Bimbo uses a specific protocol for analyzing data for the antibody tests based on specific groups in the bakeries and distribution centers. “We are trying to maintain control with smaller groups of people to avoid contamination in larger groups,” he said, referring to the smaller work groups required inside facilities.
Associates who have tested positive are required to quarantine at home, and the company also connects them with medical professionals who can offer guidance on at-home care.
Grupo Bimbo also has a set of preventive measures in its bakeries, including easy steps like frequent hand-washing and use of hand sanitizer and timers to remind associates to do so at regular 20- to 30-minute intervals.
“Of course, we have been using face masks since the beginning,” Gonzalez said. “We have also been using face shields, since the beginning, for all associates who are selling goods outside of the bakeries. We have several different distribution channels and associates who are interacting with consumers, so we have to consider the ways to not only keep themselves safe but also the others they interact with.”
“Something that will be part of our business forever is this increased frequency with cleaning and sanitation with stronger solutions on all our workspaces,” Gonzalez said. “That doesn’t just mean the walls floors and ceilings; that also means the entire interior of our bakeries.”
Other preventive measures include sanitary air filters and routine temperature checks and self-reporting questionnaires for anyone entering a facility.
Additionally, Grupo Bimbo has installed sanitation “tunnels” in its bakeries and distribution centers. Associates walk through a spray of quaternary ammonium salt solution that provides several hours of sanitary protection. Work stations and even vehicles such as forklifts are also sanitized regularly.
“Something that will be part of our business forever is this increased frequency with cleaning and sanitation with stronger solutions on all our workspaces,” Gonzalez said. “That doesn’t just mean the walls floors and ceilings; that also means the entire interior of our bakeries.”
The measures Grupo Bimbo has taken has resulted in low numbers of infection for associates, which supports the goal of the company to protect its people, who are at the heart of its purpose, philosophy and mission.
Looking to the future with that safety in mind, Grupo Bimbo developed a COVID-19 assessment mobile app. “It has all our people connected — not only our people who have been infected — but it also provides information on the total impact on our people,” Gonzalez said.
In addition to providing medical assistance for workers who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, the company also provides psychological counseling to help manage the stress and anxiety that’s a reality of the pandemic.
Grupo Bimbo also supports remote work for all associates who have jobs that can be done at home as well as for at-risk associates such as pregnant women and people with diabetes, cancer, hypertension or other risk factors.
“We began this back in March of 2020,” Gonzalez said. “Fortunately, many are able to come back to their regular jobs safely.”
While the industry anxiously awaits the full vaccine rollout, Grupo Bimbo will continue its strong measures to keep employees safe. “People are at the center of our values, and we are not just going to wait for the vaccination,” Gonzalez said. “We are working hard to obtain the vaccines for our associates.” Globally, the company must work with specific health authorities in each of the countries where it operates, but in every region where it can obtain vaccines for its workers, Grupo Bimbo is pursuing every opportunity.
Overall, Gonzalez emphasized that beyond the vaccine, Grupo Bimbo places a high priority on investing in long-term safety measures to ensure that workers in every bakery, distribution center and office can safely perform their jobs to bring high-quality, safe products to consumers around the world.