Background information

Crafts beer producer Labietis, reacting to the new situation, was one of the first to start door to door delivery of the alcoholic beverages. On 21 March 2020 the government ruled, that it will be allowed to sell the alcoholic beverages over internet during the emergency state declared in connection with the spread of COVID-19 (later extended to 31 December 2020).

Content of measure

Previously crafts beer producer Labietis sold 75% of its beer in self owned four bars, part of it in HORECA and the rest in supermarkets. According to the one of the owner of the brewery – in one day they were left only with the supermarkets, resulting in a loss of turnover up to 80%.

On 21 March 2020 the government ruled, that it will be allowed to sell the alcoholic beverages over internet. In a couple of days the company managed to build an online shop. The owner of the brewery jokingly says that the bartenders quickly retrained as logistics specialists, and they were able to do same day delivery. Later the cooperation started with the delivery service provider, who provides newt day deliveries all over the Baltic States. The delivery in Riga is done by the company itself, thus retaining employees.

The owner of the brewery recognizes, however, that deliveries at the moment are not a success story, but an attempt not to stop working altogether - instead of reducing turnover by 90%, it may be able to prevent it from shrinking by more than half.

Use of measure

No information to report.

Contents

• Other topics
• Work organisation

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Other businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Company / Companies	No special funding required

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement as case not in social partner domain
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Company level

Involvement

No social partners involvement.

Views and reactions

No specific views to report.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 27 March 2020: Labietis compensates for the silence in the bars with door to door deliveries (www.db.lv)
• 09 April 2020: 4 directions to turn the crisis into an opportunity (businessnetwork.lv)