Hair products manufacturer, Darling, has announced that the business took a 20% dive into losses following the preceding effects of the Covid 19 pandemic. According to credible reports, the firm experienced the financial shave in the second quarter of the pandemic. Loyal and prospective customers had advisories of staying away from Covid 19 hotbeds like salons and beauty parlours.
Affirming the financial losses, Darling chief executive Rohit Vengurlekar told a local daily that the pandemic saw their three hair-making factories in Nairobi and Nakuru operate below capacity as demand for their products fell.
“Since March, the beauty and personal care industry in particular the salon industry has been greatly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. With the partial reopening of the economy, we are helping salonists to transition into the new ‘normal’ where hygiene will be of utmost importance,” he said.
Further, Mr. Vengurlekar who heads Darling’s sanitary and beauty product businesses, disclosed that they had intensified partnerships with 22 County governments. The collaboration targets 7,000 youth who will gain in a sponsored apprenticeship program.
“Since January, we assisted 5,000 youth to launch own businesses. As business picks, we have enhanced the partnership to enable salons resume operations under new conditions that give Kenyans confidence,” Mr. Vengurlekar.
