Forager Vodka has filled 30,000 bottles of hand sanitizer during the COVID-19 pandemic (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

HAND SANITIZER

Kamloops distillery selling hand sanitizer across Canada as need grows

May 26, 2020 | 11:01 AM

KAMLOOPS — When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Forager Vodka, a local Kamloops company, put its distilling expertise to work. It started making hand sanitizer and delivered to non-profit organizations like the Mustard Seed.

“Nobody knew what to expect with the pandemic and what the shortages in the supply chain would look like,” said owner of Forager Vodka, Dale Walker. “I’m just glad we’ve been here to be part of this and to help the community.”

Early in the pandemic, Forager also developed partnerships with mining companies like Teck, which operates Highland Valley Copper.

“We started supplying them in an agreement that they would supply some non-profit groups through the Thompson-Nicola Regional District. So we started supplying the mine directly.”

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The hand sanitizer has been in high demand as word spread across the country about the product.

“Between the news articles and the talk of supplying Teck, a number of other mining, railway and government agencies, non-profits reached out to us. The shortage is clear across Canada for sanitizer and personal protective equipment (PPE),” noted Walker.

Forager has sold sanitizer to companies as far east as Quebec. The company says with more businesses opening and a lack of PPE, there could be a unique opportunity to expand its business.

“We went out for lunch for the first time yesterday out at the Shuswap,” noted partner Derek Strokon. “At the front door, they sprayed our hands with hand sanitizer and said, ‘Do you mind cleaning yourself on the way in?’ That to me is a really interesting opportunity, interesting market.”

Forager says bottling hand sanitizer at its plant in Sicamous has kept its business afloat during trying times.

It has filled 30,000 bottles since the pandemic took off in mid-March. A small bottle costs $4, while a larger one is $6.75, available to anyone or any business who needs it.

“Right now, all the orders are coming through the Facebook page, so if there’s anybody who does feel they could need a larger supply or want to get into that real focus of supporting local, then the connection through the Facebook page is definitely there,” said Strokon.