NEW DELHI: The country’s two biggest foods and beverage makers Nestle and Coca-Cola said on Tuesday that they are suspending production on a temporary basis at their plants, with the exception of limited essential products, following the country-wide lockdown amidst the Covid-19 scare.

Nestle, maker of Maggi noodles, Nescafe coffee, Cereal infant cereal and KitKat chocolate, said in a BSE filing that in view of the countrywide lockdown, operations in some of its locations, inclusive of manufacturing, distribution centres, warehouses, offices and suppliers, have been scaled down or suspended. “The company is closely monitoring the situation and will take all necessary measures as directed by the government and authorities. The impact on the operations of the company cannot be assessed at this point,” Nestle said in the BSE filing. The India unit of the Swiss foods maker did not specify which for products it was suspending manufacturing.

A spokesperson for beverage maker Coca-Cola too said the company has temporarily suspended production at its manufacturing facilities. The maker of Coke and Thums Up soft drinks, Minute Maid juice and Kinley water, which has a large footprint of over 50 bottling operations including franchisee partners, will operate manufacturing facilities only for essential beverages such as water in very small numbers.

A number of states including Maharashtra, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Punjab and Assam have imposed complete lockdown to contain the Covid-19 outbreak, with only essential services being made available till the month end.

On Monday, Dabur had said it is temporarily suspending production, except for essentials like ayurvedic medicines, Chyawanprash and sanitisers.