Latest on COVID-19 at Nestlé UK

However, the manufacturer has assured customers that all its sites remain ‘fully operational’. 

It emerged at the end of last month that 40 workers at the Fawdon site had tested positive for the novel coronavirus from 16-27 October​​.

In a statement following local press coverage, a Nestlé spokeswoman said: “A small number of people working at our factory in Tutbury have tested positive for coronavirus and those affected are isolating and receiving treatment where required.​

“We are working closely with authorities including Public Health England and continue to follow all advice to reduce the risk of infection.​

‘Strict hygiene measures’​​

“Our factories already have strict hygiene measures and protocols in place, and we have issued extra guidance and implemented additional measures across all our sites since the very beginning of the pandemic. Keeping people safe remains our top priority.”​

However, she continued: “The number of colleagues receiving positive COVID-19 tests in Fawdon has declined significantly.​ ​

“We have further enhanced our stringent measures within the factory, continue to closely monitor the situation and support those colleagues returning to the workplace post-isolation.​ ​

‘Keeping everyone safe number one priority’​​ 

“As previously stressed, keeping everyone safe remains our number one priority. We continue to work closely with the local Public Health England team, the local authority and the HSE​ [the Health and Safety Executive]. 

“We would stress that all our products are completely safe, and that our factories remain fully operational.”​

Tutbury is Nestlé's centre of excellence for coffee production, where it produces Dolce Gusto coffee capsules. It is one of the company's oldest factories, having been built in 1901, and has received significant investment throughout its history to keep pace with the market.

It featured in the BBC television series Inside The Factory in 2018​​.

• On 11 November, Pilgrim’s Pride confirmed a small number of isolated and unrelated positive cases of the virus at its Ruskington plant near Sleaford​​. The affected staff were self-isolating and the company attributed the presence of the infection to the prevalence of COVID-19 in the wider community surrounding the factory.