Frieslandcampina Serves Up Support to Heroic Frontliners Tackling Covid-19

• Maker of Rainbow is sharing hot Karak tea with sanitisation workers across the UAE.
• The initiative is part of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s 10 million meals drive.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 05 May, 2020:   FrieslandCampina, the global manufacturer of consumer dairy products, has launched an initiative to support the UAE government’s COVID-19 sanitisation and containment efforts. As Dubai Municipality staff and sanitisation workers are deployed to sanitise the city’s streets, FrieslandCampina is providing hot Rainbow Karak tea — a staple beverage popular among the nation’s workers — to all frontliners working around the clock to combat the virus.

The distribution of Rainbow Karak started on Thursday 9, April 2020 in collaboration and coordination with the UAE Food Bank. The initiative is in line with FrieslandCampina’s commitment to contributing to the wellbeing and safety of society, especially in these unprecedented times. To date, the drive has seen more than 10,000 cups of spiced chai delivered to Dubai Municipality’s sanitisation staff at more than 40 locations. This vast coverage was achieved through cooperation with the Municipality to ensure maximum distribution across sanitisation areas. 

With Karak being a popular drink of choice for the nation’s workers, the closure of Karak tea shops and cafeterias due to the lockdown has deprived frontliners of a traditional and valuable source of sustenance. As part of Rainbow’s ongoing commitment to the communities it serves, FrieslandCampina Middle East staff have been working day and night to ensure Dubai’s sanitisation workers are provided with all the hot Rainbow Karak they need. These drinks are safely prepared by dedicated teams of local Rainbow operators, whom — over the course of three shifts per day — spend 18 hours delivering Karak and catering to the municipality’s sanitisation crews. 

In recognition of their contributions to public health and safety, FrieslandCampina has announced it will be providing this support to frontline workers for the duration of Dubai’s coronavirus lockdown. Additional plans are being put in place to ensure deliveries are appropriately rescheduled during the Holy Month of Ramadan. 

Sumeet Mathur, Managing Director of FrieslandCampina Middle East said: “We are wholly committed to contributing in the fight against COVID-19. This commitment is underscored by our belief that helping people eat well empowers them to live well. In these trying times, we take it as our responsibility to support the local heroes facing up to the present challenges on a daily and nightly basis. It is our job to nourish the spirit of heroism they have and continue to display. Wholeheartedly, we commend them for their efforts, and I’m happy we managed to bring joy to their heart with sharing their favorite cup of karak.” 
The thousands of cups prepared are as close to the sanitisation areas as possible, and packed in special flasks to preserve heat. These drinks are prepared and delivered under the close supervision of Dubai Municipality.