Calgary-based Minhas Breweries and Distilleries has begun full-time production of hand sanitizer in response to the local need for supplies to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
“We started investigating the process the moment we took our first call from a regional health authority. It took a couple of weeks to clear approvals and gather ingredients but we’re relieved to be up and running,” said Minhas Micro Brewery CEO Manjit Minhas.
The company will produce over 1,000,000 bottles of alcohol-based hand sanitizer in the next two weeks.
“We’re all so grateful for our staff’s hard work to reposition the facility and grateful that were are in a position to be able to whatever we can to respond to this crisis,” added Minhas.
The company said the Health Canada approved product follows a World Health Organization-recommended formulation for alcohol-based handrub (80 per cent alcohol, 1.45 per cent glycerol and 0.125 per cent hydrogen
peroxide) and contains no fragrances to reduce the risk of allergic reactions.
On Monday it will start selling the hand sanitizer to the public through numerous grocery chains locally and across the
country early next week such as Sobeys, Safeway, Co-op, FreshCo, Foodland etc and restaurants through Sysco .
“We have re-tooled and put a pause on all distillery operations to produce hand sanitizer only,” said the company.
The hand sanitizer will also be made available to the general public in Calgary at the Minhas Brewery and Distillery at 1314 Ave. NE beginning April 13 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day. (Limits of four bottles per person apply).
