Lê Thị Mỹ Hạnh receives products from Nestlé's programme of "Overcoming challenges, grasping opportunities". — Photo Courtesy of Nestlé

HÀ NỘI — Lê Thị Mỹ Hạnh, reopened her noodle soup restaurant in HCM City after the social distancing period, but the number of customers was a third of her usual numbers.

Like most small restaurants and food courts in the country, Hạnh has lost much of her business in the more than three months since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.

The losses grew due to a decrease in purchasing power as well as social distancing in April when individual and small businesses were reported as the most vulnerable in the private sector. Some of whom have been struggling and even halted business.

Hạnh, who owns the noodle chain Hủ Tiếu Bò Viên Chú Tư Già, said: "During social distancing, orders dropped to one-third of the 500-600 orders a day we had before the pandemic."

For Hạnh's and about 22,000 small food courts, school canteens and restaurants' partners, Nestlé and La Vie have run a programme of "Overcoming challenges, grasping opportunities" to help them overcome difficulties.

In the programme, Nestlé has handed over a donation of Milo products to small business partners. Nestlé and La Vie, a member of Nestlé Group, have handed out 1.8 million products of Milo, Maggi, Nescafe and Nestea to the mentioned 22,000 partners.

According to the firm, the total value of this initiative is estimated at VNĐ22 billion ($956,500).

The programme is one of Nestlé's series of activities aiming to accompany the Government's fight against COVID-19.

Binu Jacob, general director of Nestlé Vietnam, stated that small restaurants, food courts, and school canteens are essential parts of the community and are suffering a substantial impact from COVID-19. Nestlé promised to accompany these small businesses and help overcome difficulties after reopening. “We believe that we can overcome challenges, grasp chances, and restart stronger than ever,” he said.

Additionally, with school starting again, Nestlé aspires to energise children by donating two million cartons of the ready-to-drink products of Milo. — VNS