MKC Continuity and COVID-19 Preparedness

Dear MKC Member:
 
We are reaching out to you today to address the increasing risk and exposure of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and the steps we are taking to keep our employees, customers and families safe.
 
Our disposition in agriculture is to power through situations such as this. We are in unchartered times, however, and due to the nature of how this disease spreads through “community spread,” it is a real concern and threat for our company.
 
Our sales, operations and administrative teams are taking precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus. With this comes some immediate changes that we need to make you aware of:

• Limitation of face-to-face meetings. We pride ourselves in personal meetings with our customers. However, that personal touch now carries risk. Thus, until further notice, our sales team will not be making face-to-face sales calls and will be contacting you via phone or through other electronic communication methods. The use of video chat is valuable and can be close to personal meetings without the risk of spreading COVID-19.
• Restriction of visitors to our facilities. Our goal is to meet the needs of our customers safely. To limit our team’s exposure, we’re halting all non-essential visits to our locations. For people who are visiting, such as delivery drivers or maintenance contractors, we’re asking everyone to complete a personal health check before coming onto our facility.
  • Check for symptoms of COVID-19. Do you have a fever, cough or shortness of breath?
  • Had close personal contact with anyone within the last 14 days who have tested positive for COVID-19?
  • For those that answer yes to any of the above, we ask them not to come to our facilities. Please contact your strategic account manager or nearest MKC location to make arrangements for an alternative.
• Limited exposure at our facilities. Please communicate with your nearest MKC location on limiting the time spent outside of trucks while onsite at our locations.  We ask anyone delivering products to our facilities to stay in their trucks unless asked to exit and for customers needing products, we strongly encourage them to remain in the vehicle, and we will load them while you are in your vehicle.
• Limited staff at our facilities. You will notice limited staff at all of our locations. Multiple reasons are impacting our need to limit staff, including the overall safety and health of our employees and closings in our local communities of schools and daycares. Please know that even with limited staff onsite at your nearest location, we will continue to put plans in place to meet the needs of your operation.
• Preparation for supply changes. Right now, we have ample inventory of most of our products (except where we have traditional seasonal tightness typical in the early spring). We anticipate being able to meet all our customers’ known spring needs. With that being said, the situation is changing rapidly, and we do not know if this will continue. We will certainly keep you posted if this changes. 
• Consideration for your safety. In the event you have concerns about your health and safety and its impact on your current contract, please contact your strategic account manager or MKC location immediately, and we can help you work through it. 

Please rest assured we have trained our team to continue to service your account effectively. We appreciate your understanding of this situation and thank you for your business.
 
Sincerely, 
Dave Christiansen
President & CEO