Winter Storm Jonas: how bakery and cereals suppliers weathered the blizzard

Businesses including Mondelēz International and Nestlé reported most of their manufacturing facilities in the area of the storm were back in action early on Monday despite six states reporting snowfall of 30 inches or more over the weekend.

Safety is primary consideration

Employee safety was a primary consideration in such a situation, said suppliers.

“In advance of the storm’s arrival, we took a number of proactive measures in our facilities and with regard to our distribution/transportation to ensure the safety of our employees and our operations​,” said Mondelēz.

The business temporarily halted operations in its East Coast manufacturing sites impacted by the storm - Fair Lawn, NJ, and Richmond, VA - but on Monday was resuming distribution to stores.

Nestlé stopped production at facilities across the mid-South (Jonesboro, Arkansas; Gaffney, SC; Danville, VA and Mt.Sterling, KY). All were back in operation Monday morning with the exception of Danville, Virginia, which returned to normal operation later that day.

General Mills said all its facilities are now running normally, "with no impact to our daily operations".

Warnings ahead of the storm had prompted a rush on staples foods as East Coast consumers stocked up, with bread fixtures being stripped bare in some cases.

Pepperidge Farm, part of the Campbell’s Soup Co business, said it had managed to maintain production.

“Our sales network ensured product was on shelves and available for our consumers to prepare for the storm​,” a spokesman told BakeryandSnacks. “We rely on our well-run and highly sophisticated network of bakeries to supply the country and are proud to report no disruptions to our scheduled production of product​.”

Pepperidge Farm added that, now the storm had passed, distributors were fulfilling orders and replenishing inventory.